Immunoregulatory effect of mesenchymal stem cell via mitochondria signaling pathways in allergic asthma

Asthma is a complicated lung disease, which has increased morbidity and mortality rates in worldwide. There is an overlap between asthma pathophysiology and mitochondrial dysfunction and MSCs may have regulatory effect on mitochondrial dysfunction and treats asthma. Therefore, immune-modulatory effect of MSCs and mitochondrial signaling pathways in asthma was studied.

After culturing of MSCs and producing asthma animal model, the mice were treated with MSCs via IV via IT. BALf's eosinophil Counting, The levels of IL-4, −5, −13, −25, –33, INF-γ, Cys-LT, LTB4, LTC4, mitochondria genes expression of COX-1, COX-2, ND1, Nrf2, Cytb were measured and lung histopathological study were done.

BALf's eosinophils, the levels of IL-4, −5, −13, −25, –33, LTB4, LTC4, Cys-LT, the mitochondria genes expression (COX-1, COX-2, Cytb and ND-1), perivascular and peribronchial inflammation, mucus hyper-production and hyperplasia of the goblet cell in pathological study were significantly decreased in MSCs-treated asthma mice and reverse trend was found about Nrf-2 gene expression, IFN-γ level and ratio of the INF-γ/IL-4.

MSC therapy can control inflammation, immune-inflammatory factors in asthma and mitochondrial related genes, and prevent asthma immune-pathology.

Mechanical strain-mediated reduction in RANKL expression is associated with RUNX2 and BRD2

Mechanical loading-related strains trigger bone formation by osteoblasts while suppressing resorption by osteoclasts, uncoupling the processes of formation and resorption. Osteocytes may orchestrate this process in part by secreting sclerostin (SOST), which inhibits osteoblasts, and expressing receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL/TNFSF11) which recruits osteoclasts. Both SOST and RANKL are targets of the master osteoblastic transcription factor RUNX2. Subjecting human osteoblastic Saos-2 cells to strain by four point bending down-regulates their expression of SOST and RANKL without altering RUNX2 expression. RUNX2 knockdown increases basal SOST expression, but does not alter SOST down-regulation following strain. Conversely, RUNX2 knockdown does not alter basal RANKL expression, but prevents its down-regulation by strain. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed RUNX2 occupies a region of the RANKL promoter containing a consensus RUNX2 binding site and its occupancy of this site decreases following strain. The expression of epigenetic acetyl and methyl writers and readers was quantified by RT-qPCR to investigate potential epigenetic bases for this change. Strain and RUNX2 knockdown both down-regulate expression of the bromodomain acetyl reader BRD2. BRD2 and RUNX2 co-immunoprecipitate, suggesting interaction within regulatory complexes, and BRD2 was confirmed to interact with the RUNX2 promoter. BRD2 also occupies the RANKL promoter and its occupancy was reduced following exposure to strain. Thus, RUNX2 may contribute to bone remodeling by suppressing basal SOST expression, while facilitating the acute strain-induced down-regulation of RANKL through a mechanosensitive epigenetic loop involving BRD2.

Regulatory roles of ginseng on inflammatory caspases, executioners of inflammasome activation

Inflammation is an immune response that protects against pathogens and cellular stress. The hallmark of inflammatory responses is inflammasome activation in response to various stimuli. This subsequently activates downstream effectors, that is, inflammatory caspases such as caspase-1, 4, 5, 11, and 12. Extensive efforts have been made on developing effective and safe anti-inflammatory therapeutics, and ginseng has long been traditionally used as efficacious and safe herbal medicine in treating various inflammatory and inflammation-mediated diseases. Many studies have successfully shown that ginseng plays an anti-inflammatory role by inhibiting inflammasomes and inflammasome-activated inflammatory caspases. This review discusses the regulatory roles of ginseng on inflammatory caspases in inflammatory responses and also suggests new research areas on the anti-inflammatory function of ginseng, which provides a novel insight into the development of ginseng as an effective and safe anti-inflammatory herbal medicine.

Mesenchymal stem cells cultured under hypoxic conditions had a greater therapeutic effect on mice with liver cirrhosis compared to those cultured under normal oxygen conditions

Background

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be easily expanded. They can be acquired from medical waste such as adipose and umbilical cord tissues, are influenced by culturing conditions, and exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fibrotic, and angiogenic effects. We analyzed the multi-directional effects of MSCs cultured under hypoxic conditions and their underlying mechanisms in the treatment of liver cirrhosis in a mouse model.

Methods

Human bone marrow-derived MSCs cultured under hypoxic (5% O₂; hypoMSCs) and normoxic (21% O₂; norMSCs) conditions were compared by cap analysis of gene expression (CAGE) with or without serum from liver cirrhosis patients. The therapeutic effects of MSCs, including serum liver enzyme induction, fibrosis regression, and hepatic oxidative stress, were evaluated by injecting 1 × 10⁶, 2 × 10⁵, or 4 × 10⁴ MSCs/mouse into the tail veins of mice with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver cirrhosis. Intravital imaging was performed with a two-photon excitation microscope to confirm the various MSC migration paths to the liver.

Results

CAGE analysis revealed that the RNA expression levels of prostaglandin E synthase (Ptges) and miR210 were significantly higher in hypoMSCs than in norMSCs. In vivo analysis revealed that both hypoMSCs and norMSCs reduced serum alanine aminotransferase, oxidative stress, and fibrosis compared to that in control mice in a dose-dependent manner. However, hypoMSCs had stronger therapeutic effects than norMSCs. We confirmed this observation by an in vitro study in which hypoMSCs changed macrophage polarity to an anti-inflammatory phenotype via prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) stimulation. In addition, miR210 reduced the rate of hepatocyte apoptosis. Intravital imaging after MSC administration showed that both cell types were primarily trapped in the lungs. Relatively a few hypoMSCs and norMSCs migrated to the liver. There were no significant differences in their distributions.

Conclusion

The therapeutic effect of hypoMSCs was mediated by PGE2 and miR210 production and was greater than that of norMSCs. Therefore, MSCs can be manipulated to improve their therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of liver cirrhosis and could potentially serve in effective cell therapy. MSCs produce several factors with multidirectional effects and function as “conducting cells” in liver cirrhosis.

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HypoMSCs decreased liver damage and fibrosis in mice in a dose-dependent manner.

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HypoMSCs produced more PTGES and miR-210 than norMSCs.

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HypoMSCs reduced oxidative stress more effectively than norMSCs.

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HypoMSCs induced anti-inflammatory macrophage growth via prostaglandin E2 production.

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miR-210 reduced hepatocyte apoptosis.

Kobophenol A Isolated from Roots of Caragana sinica (Buc'hoz) Rehder Exhibits Anti-inflammatory Activity by Regulating NF-κB Nuclear Translocation in J774A.1 Cells

Kobophenol A (KPA) is a biologically active natural compound isolated from the roots of Caragana sinica (Buc'hoz) Rehder (C. sinica). However, the anti-inflammatory effects of KPA have not been reported. This study aims to find out whether KPA isolated from roots of C. sinica can act as a potential substance on inflammation and analyze the molecular mechanism using the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated J774 A.1 macrophage cell line. We showed that KPA treatment significantly suppressed the production of nitric oxide (NO) by inhibiting inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. In the KPA also inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression and production, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in LPS-stimulated J774 A.1 cells. As continuing study on the mechanisms involved, we confirmed that these effects of KPA were related to the inhibition of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway including the suppression of IκB kinase α/β (IKKα/β) phosphorylation and translocation of NF-κB into the nucleus. Taken together, the present study is the first to demonstrate that KPA isolated from C. sinica suppresses the expression of inflammatory mediators and cytokines by inhibiting NF-κB nuclear translocation in LPS-stimulated J774 A.1 macrophages. KPA may be a potential candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in the future.