Project description:GM-CSF is important in regulating acute, persistent neutrophilic inflammation in certain settings, including lung injury. Ligand binding induces rapid internalization of the GM-CSF receptor (GM-CSFRα) complex, a process essential for signaling. Whereas GM-CSF controls many aspects of neutrophil biology, regulation of GM-CSFRα expression is poorly understood, particularly the role of GM-CSFRα in ligand clearance and whether signaling is sustained despite major down-regulation of GM-CSFRα surface expression. We established a quantitative assay of GM-CSFRα surface expression and used this, together with selective anti-GM-CSFR antibodies, to define GM-CSFRα kinetics in human neutrophils, and in murine blood and alveolar neutrophils in a lung injury model. Despite rapid sustained ligand-induced GM-CSFRα loss from the neutrophil surface, which persisted even following ligand removal, pro-survival effects of GM-CSF required ongoing ligand-receptor interaction. Neutrophils recruited to the lungs following LPS challenge showed initially high mGM-CSFRα expression, which along with mGM-CSFRβ declined over 24 hr; this was associated with a transient increase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) mGM-CSF concentration. Treating mice in an LPS challenge model with CAM-3003, an anti-mGM-CSFRα mAb, inhibited inflammatory cell influx into the lung and maintained the level of BALF mGM-CSF. Consistent with neutrophil consumption of GM-CSF, human neutrophils depleted exogenous GM-CSF, independent of protease activity. These data show that loss of membrane GM-CSFRα following GM-CSF exposure does not preclude sustained GM-CSF/GM-CSFRα signaling and that this receptor plays a key role in ligand clearance. Hence neutrophilic activation via GM-CSFR may play an important role in neutrophilic lung inflammation even in the absence of high GM-CSF levels or GM-CSFRα expression.
Project description:Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) is produced in the lungs of patients suffering from acute lung injury (ALI). We assessed its contribution in disease progression using three different ALI mouse models. The administration of hydrochloric acid (HCl) or oleic acid (OA)+ lipopolysaccharide (LPS) caused tissue edema and neutrophil infiltration with TXA2 production in the lungs of the experimental mice. The administration of LPS induced only neutrophil accumulation without TXA2 production. Pretreatment with T prostanoid receptor (TP) antagonist attenuated the tissue edema but not neutrophil infiltration in these models. Intravital imaging and immunostaining demonstrated that administration of TP agonist caused vascular hyper-permeability by disrupting the endothelial barrier formation in the mouse ear. In vitro experiments showed that TP-stimulation disrupted the endothelial adherens junction, and it was inhibited by Ca(2+) channel blockade or Rho kinase inhibition. Thus endogenous TXA2 exacerbates ALI, and its blockade attenuates it by modulating the extent of lung edema. This can be explained by the endothelial hyper-permeability caused by the activation of TXA2-TP axis, via Ca(2+)- and Rho kinase-dependent signaling.
Project description:Neutrophils are critical mediators of innate immune responses and contribute to tissue injury. However, immune pathways that regulate neutrophil recruitment to injured tissues during noninfectious inflammation remain poorly understood. DAP12 is a cell membrane-associated protein that is expressed in myeloid cells and can either augment or dampen innate inflammatory responses during infections. To elucidate the role of DAP12 in pulmonary ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), we took advantage of a clinically relevant mouse model of transplant-mediated lung IRI. This technique allowed us to dissect the importance of DAP12 in tissue-resident cells and those that infiltrate injured tissue from the periphery during noninfectious inflammation. Macrophages in both mouse and human lungs that have been subjected to cold ischemic storage express DAP12. We found that donor, but not recipient, deficiency in DAP12 protected against pulmonary IRI. Analysis of the immune response showed that DAP12 promotes the survival of tissue-resident alveolar macrophages and contributes to local production of neutrophil chemoattractants. Intravital imaging demonstrated a transendothelial migration defect into DAP12-deficient lungs, which can be rescued by local administration of the neutrophil chemokine CXCL2. We have uncovered a previously unrecognized role for DAP12 expression in tissue-resident alveolar macrophages in mediating acute noninfectious tissue injury through regulation of neutrophil trafficking.
Project description:Exocytosis of neutrophil granules contributes to acute lung injury (ALI) induced by infection or inflammation, suggesting that inhibition of neutrophil exocytosis in vivo could be a viable therapeutic strategy. This study was conducted to determine the effect of a cell-permeable fusion protein that inhibits neutrophil exocytosis (TAT-SNAP-23) on ALI using an immune complex deposition model in rats. The effect of inhibition of neutrophil exocytosis by intravenous administration of TAT-SNAP-23 on ALI was assessed by albumin leakage, neutrophil infiltration, lung histology, and proteomic analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Administration of TAT-SNAP-23, but not TAT-control, significantly reduced albumin leakage, total protein levels in the BALF, and intra-alveolar edema and hemorrhage. Evidence that TAT-SNAP-23 inhibits neutrophil exocytosis included a reduction in plasma membrane CD18 expression by BALF neutrophils and a decrease in neutrophil granule proteins in BALF. Similar degree of neutrophil accumulation in the lungs and/or BALF suggests that TAT-SNAP-23 did not alter vascular endothelial cell function. Proteomic analysis of BALF revealed that components of the complement and coagulation pathways were significantly reduced in BALF from TAT-SNAP-23-treated animals. Our results indicate that administration of a TAT-fusion protein that inhibits neutrophil exocytosis reduces in vivo ALI. Targeting neutrophil exocytosis is a potential therapeutic strategy to ameliorate ALI.
Project description:Sepsis is predominantly initiated by bacterial infection and can cause systemic inflammation, which frequently leads to rapid death of the patient. However, this acute systemic inflammatory response requires further investigation from the perspectives of clinical judgment criteria and early treatment strategies for the relief of symptoms. Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) 18:0 may relieve septic symptoms, but the relevant mechanism is not clearly understood. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effectiveness of LPC as a therapeutic treatment for acute inflammation in the lung induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice. Systemic inflammation of mice was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inoculation to investigate the role of LPC in the migration and the immune response of neutrophils during acute lung injury. By employing two-photon intravital imaging of the LPS-stimulated LysM-GFP mice and other in vitro and in vivo assays, we examined whether LPC alleviates the inflammatory effect of sepsis. We also tested the effect of LPC to human neutrophils from healthy control and sepsis patients. Our data showed that LPC treatment reduced the infiltration of innate immune cells into the lung. Specifically, LPC altered neutrophil migratory patterns and enhanced phagocytic efficacy in the damaged lung. Moreover, LPC treatment reduced the release of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET), which can damage tissue in the inflamed organ and exacerbate disease. It also reduced human neutrophil migration under inflammatory environment. Our results suggest that LPC can alleviate sepsis-induced lung inflammation by regulating the function of neutrophils. These findings provide evidence for the beneficial application of LPC treatment as a potential therapeutic strategy for sepsis.
Project description:There is emerging evidence that platelets are major contributors to inflammatory processes through intimate associations with innate immune cells. Here, we report that activated platelets induce the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), which is the leading cause of death after transfusion therapy. NETs are composed of decondensed chromatin decorated with granular proteins that function to trap extracellular pathogens; their formation requires the activation of neutrophils and release of their DNA in a process that may or may not result in neutrophil death. In a mouse model of TRALI that is neutrophil and platelet dependent, NETs appeared in the lung microvasculature and NET components increased in the plasma. We detected NETs in the lungs and plasma of human TRALI and in the plasma of patients with acute lung injury. In the experimental TRALI model, targeting platelet activation with either aspirin or a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor decreased NET formation and lung injury. We then directly targeted NET components with a histone blocking antibody and DNase1, both of which protected mice from TRALI. These data suggest that NETs contribute to lung endothelial injury and that targeting NET formation may be a promising new direction for the treatment of acute lung injury.
Project description:Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are the acute onset of noncardiac respiratory insufficiency associated with bilateral lung infiltrations. During the past decade, mechanical ventilation strategies using low tidal volumes have reduced the mortality of ALI/ARDS to ? 20 - 40%. However, ALI/ARDS continues to be a major factor in global burden of diseases, with no pharmacological agents currently available.In this review, we discuss several inflammatory proteins involved in the molecular pathogenesis of ALI/ARDS. The complement cleavage product, C5a, is a peptide acting as a potent anaphylatoxin. C5a may trigger the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and release of histone proteins to the extracellular compartment during ALI/ARDS. NETs may activate platelets to release TGF-?, which is involved in tissue remodeling during the later phases of ALI/ARDS. Interception of C5a signaling or blockade of extracellular histones has recently shown promising beneficial effects in small animal models of ALI/ARDS.Novel protein-based strategies for the treatment of ALI/ARDS may inspire the hopes of scientists, clinicians, and patients. Although neutralization of extracellular histones/NETs, C5a, and TGF-? is effective in experimental models of ALI/ARDS, controlled clinical trials will be necessary for further evaluation in future.
Project description:To test the hypothesis that restoration of antithrombin plasma concentrations attenuates vascular leakage by inhibiting neutrophil activation through syndecan-4 receptor inhibition in an established ovine model of acute lung injury.Randomized controlled laboratory experiment.University animal research facility.Eighteen chronically instrumented sheep.Following combined burn and smoke inhalation injury (40% of total body surface area, third-degree flame burn; 4 × 12 breaths of cold cotton smoke), chronically instrumented sheep were randomly assigned to receive an IV infusion of 6 IU/kg/hr recombinant human antithrombin III or normal saline (n = 6 each) during the 48-hour study period. In addition, six sham animals (not injured, continuous infusion of vehicle) were used to obtain reference values for histological and immunohistochemical analyses.Compared to control animals, recombinant human antithrombin III reduced the number of neutrophils per hour in the pulmonary lymph (p < 0.01 at 24 and 48 hr), alveolar neutrophil infiltration (p = 0.04), and pulmonary myeloperoxidase activity (p = 0.026). Flow cytometric analysis revealed a significant reduction of syndecan-4-positive neutrophils (p = 0.002 vs control at 24 hr). Treatment with recombinant human antithrombin III resulted in a reduction of pulmonary nitrosative stress (p = 0.002), airway obstruction (bronchi: p = 0.001, bronchioli: p = 0.013), parenchymal edema (p = 0.044), and lung bloodless wet-to-dry-weight ratio (p = 0.015). Clinically, recombinant human antithrombin III attenuated the increased pulmonary transvascular fluid flux (12-48 hr: p ? 0.001 vs control each) and the deteriorated pulmonary gas exchange (12-48 hr: p < 0.05 vs control each) without increasing the risk of bleeding.The present study provides evidence for the interaction between antithrombin and neutrophils in vivo, its pathophysiological role in vascular leakage, and the therapeutic potential of recombinant human antithrombin III in a large animal model of acute lung injury.
Project description:Sepsis refers to severe systemic inflammation leading to acute lung injury (ALI) and death. Introducing novel therapies can reduce the mortality in ALI. Osteopontin (OPN), a secretory glycoprotein produced by immune reactive cells, plays a deleterious role in various inflammatory diseases. However, its role in ALI caused by sepsis remains unexplored. We hypothesize that treatment with an OPN-neutralizing antibody (anti-OPN Ab) protects mice against ALI during sepsis.Sepsis was induced in 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Anti-OPN Ab or non-immunized IgG as control, at a dose of 50 ?g/mouse, was intravenously injected at the time of CLP. After 20 hours, the expression of OPN and proinflammatory cytokines in tissues and plasma was examined by real-time PCR, Western blot, and ELISA. Plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were determined by colorimetric assays. Lung damage and neutrophil infiltrations were determined by histological H&E and Gr-1 staining, respectively. The effect of recombinant mouse OPN (rmOPN) on human neutrophil-like cell (HL-60) migration was performed by Boyden chamber assays and the involvement of intracellular signaling molecules in HL-60 cells was revealed by Western blot.After 20 hours of sepsis, mRNA and protein levels of OPN were significantly induced in lungs, spleen, and plasma. Treatment with an anti-OPN Ab in septic mice significantly reduced the plasma levels of ALT, AST, and LDH, and the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1? and the chemokine MIP-2, compared with the vehicle group. Similarly, the lung mRNA and protein expressions of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokine were greatly reduced in anti-OPN Ab-treated animals. The lung histological architecture, MPO and neutrophil infiltration were significantly improved in anti-OPN Ab-treated mice compared with the vehicle animals. Treatment of rmOPN in HL-60 cells significantly increased their migration, in vitro. The neutrophils treated with rmOPN remarkably increased the levels of phospho focal adhesion kinase (pFAK), phospho extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) and phospho p38.Our findings clearly demonstrate the beneficial outcomes of anti-OPN Ab treatment in protecting against ALI, implicating a novel therapeutic strategy in sepsis.
Project description:RationaleAlthough reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generally considered to be proinflammatory and to contribute to cellular and organ dysfunction when present in excessive amounts, there is evidence that specific ROS, particularly hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), may have antiinflammatory properties.ObjectivesTo address the role that increases in intracellular H(2)O(2) may play in acute inflammatory processes, we examined the effects of catalase inhibition or the absence of catalase on LPS-induced inflammatory responses.MethodsNeutrophils from control or acatalasemic mice, or control neutrophils incubated with the catalase inhibitor aminotriazole, were treated with LPS, and levels of reactive oxygen species, proteasomal activity, NF-kappaB activation, and proinflammatory cytokine expression were measured. Acute lung injury (ALI) was produced by intratracheal injection of LPS into control, acatalasemic-, or aminotriazole-treated mice.Measurements and main resultsIntracellular levels of H(2)O(2) were increased in acatalasemic neutrophils and in neutrophils exposed to aminotriazole. Compared with LPS-stimulated neutrophils from control mice, neutrophils from acatalasemic mice or neutrophils treated with aminotriazole demonstrated reduced 20S and 26S proteasomal activity, IkappaB-alpha degradation, NF-kappaB nuclear accumulation, and production of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and macrophage inhibitory protein (MIP)-2. The severity of LPS-induced ALI was less in acatalasemic mice and in mice treated with aminotriazole as compared with that found in control mice.ConclusionsThese results indicate that H(2)O(2) has antiinflammatory effects on neutrophil activation and inflammatory processes, such as ALI, in which activated neutrophils play a major role.