Project description:NF-κB is a key regulator of innate and adaptive immunity and is implicated in the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI). The cell type-specific functions of NF-κB in the kidney are unknown; however, the pathway serves distinct functions in immune and tissue-parenchymal cells. We analyzed tubular epithelial-specific NF-κB signaling in a mouse model of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI)-induced AKI. NF-κB reporter activity and nuclear localization of phosphorylated NF-κB subunit p65 analyses in mice revealed widespread NF-κB activation in renal tubular epithelia and in interstitial cells following IRI that peaked at 2-3 days after injury. To genetically antagonize tubular epithelial NF-κB activity, we generated mice expressing the human NF-κB super-repressor IκBα∆N in renal proximal, distal, and collecting duct epithelial cells. These mice were protected from IRI-induced AKI, as indicated by improved renal function, reduced tubular apoptosis, and attenuated neutrophil and macrophage infiltration. Tubular NF-κB-dependent gene expression profiles revealed temporally distinct functional gene clusters for apoptosis, chemotaxis, and morphogenesis. Primary proximal tubular cells isolated from IκBα∆N-expressing mice exposed to hypoxia-mimetic agent cobalt chloride were protected from apoptosis and expressed reduced levels of chemokines. Our results indicate that postischemic NF-κB activation in renal-tubular epithelia aggravates tubular injury and exacerbates a maladaptive inflammatory response.
Project description:NF-κB is a key regulator of innate and adaptive immunity and is implicated in the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI). The cell type-specific functions of NF-κB in the kidney are unknown; however, the pathway serves distinct functions in immune and tissue-parenchymal cells. We analyzed tubular epithelial-specific NF-κB signaling in a mouse model of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI)-induced AKI. NF-κB reporter activity and nuclear localization of phosphorylated NF-κB subunit p65 analyses in mice revealed widespread NF-κB activation in renal tubular epithelia and in interstitial cells following IRI that peaked at 2-3 days after injury. To genetically antagonize tubular epithelial NF-κB activity, we generated mice expressing the human NF-κB super-repressor IκBα∆N in renal proximal, distal, and collecting duct epithelial cells. These mice were protected from IRI-induced AKI, as indicated by improved renal function, reduced tubular apoptosis, and attenuated neutrophil and macrophage infiltration. Tubular NF-κB-dependent gene expression profiles revealed temporally distinct functional gene clusters for apoptosis, chemotaxis, and morphogenesis. Primary proximal tubular cells isolated from IκBα∆N-expressing mice exposed to hypoxia-mimetic agent cobalt chloride were protected from apoptosis and expressed reduced levels of chemokines. Our results indicate that postischemic NF-κB activation in renal-tubular epithelia aggravates tubular injury and exacerbates a maladaptive inflammatory response.
Project description:Nf-kB activity is associated with the key pathological features of chronic respiratory diseases including epithelial remodelling, excess mucous production, and submucosal gland hyperplasia. However, the role of Nf-kB activity in airway epithelial differentiation remains controversial. In the present study we demonstrate that Nf-kB adaptor protein Myd88 deficiency promotes increased airway submucosal gland abundance and abnormal epithelial differentiation in proximal adult airways. Abnormal airway differentiation was not developmentally determined, became exacerbated following acute lung injury, and did not involve altered epithelial proliferation or apoptosis. Instead, we demonstrate that tracheal Myd88 deficiency promotes upregulation of a unique gene expression profile that includes activation of alternate, Myd88-independent Nf-kB signalling. Finally, we show that these effects are not intrinsically maintained in vitro using an air-liquid interface epithelial culture. This finding indicates that Myd88 deficiency promotes adult airway remodelling by regulating non-epithelial, non-cell autonomous Nf-kB activity. 20 microarray samples of whole trachea RNA in total: 5 samples wildtype control tissue 5 samples Myd88 KO control tissue 5 samples wildtype 3 day polidocanol injury tissue 5 samples Myd88 KO 3 day polidocanol injury tissue
Project description:The mechanistic target of rapamycin mTORC1 is a key regulator of cell metabolism and autophagy. Despite widespread clinical use of mTOR inhibitors, the role of mTORC1 in renal tubular function and kidney homeostasis remains elusive. By utilizing constitutive and inducible deletion of conditional Raptor alleles in renal tubular epithelial cells, we discovered that mTORC1 deficiency caused a marked concentrating defect, loss of tubular cells and slowly progressive renal fibrosis. Transcriptional profiling revealed that mTORC1 maintains renal tubular homeostasis by controlling mitochondrial metabolism and biogenesis as well as transcellular transport processes involved in counter-current multiplication and urine concentration. Although mTORC2 partially compensated the loss of mTORC1, exposure to ischemia and reperfusion injury exaggerated the tubular damage in mTORC1-deficient mice, and caused pronounced apoptosis, diminished proliferation rates and delayed recovery. These findings identify mTORC1 as an essential regulator of tubular energy metabolism and as a crucial component of ischemic stress responses. Pharmacological inhibition of mTORC1 likely affects tubular homeostasis, and may be particularly deleterious if the kidney is exposed to acute injury. Furthermore, the combined inhibition of mTORC1 and mTORC2 may increase the susceptibility to renal damage. Raptor fl/fl*KspCre and Raptor fl/fl animals were sacrificed at P14 before the development of an overt functional phenotype. Kidneys were split in half and immediately snap frozen in liquid nitrogen.
Project description:The role of matrilin-3 in the brain, an extracellular matrix component in cartilage, is unknown. Here, we identify matrilin-3 decreased in reactive astrocytes but unchanged in neurons after ischemic stroke in animals. Importantly, it is declined in serum of patients with acute ischemic stroke. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition or supplementation of matrilin-3 aggravates or reduces brain injury, astrocytic cell death and glial scar, respectively, but has no direct effect on neuronal cell death. RNA-sequencing demonstrates that Matn3−/− mice display an increased inflammatory response profile in the ischemic brain, including the NF-κB signaling pathway. Both endogenous and exogenous matrilin-3 reduce inflammatory mediators. Mechanistically, extracellular matrilin-3 enters astrocytes via caveolin-1-mediated endocytosis. Cytoplasmic matrilin-3 translocates into the nucleus by binding to NF-κB p65, suppressing inflammatory cytokines transcription. Extracellular matrilin-3 binds to BMP-2, blocking BMP-2/Smads pathway. Thus, matrilin-3 is required for astrocytes to exert neuroprotection at least partially via suppressing astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation.
Project description:Excessive and unresolved neuroinflammation is part of the pathological cascade in brain injuries such as acute ischemia, as well as neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. Particularly, timely resolution of inflammation is critical for the recovery and repair after brain injury. The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling plays a central role in neuroinflammation through transcriptional induction of proinflammatory genes. Here, we report that TRIM9, a brain-specific member of the TRIpartite motif (TRIM) family with ubiquitin E3 ligase activity, is upregulated in the peri-infarct cortical areas of mouse brain upon ischemic stroke, and governs the resolution of NF-κB-mediated neuroinflammation. Mechanistically, neuronal TRIM9 sequestered β-TrCP, a component of the Skp-Cullin-F-box (SCF) E3 ligase complex, from ubiquitinating IκBα, thereby mitigating NF-κB-dependent inflammatory responses including production of proinflammatory mediators and infiltration of immune cells. Consequently, Trim9 deficient mice were highly vulnerable to ischemia, manifesting uncontrolled neuroinflammation and exacerbated neuropathological and neurological outcomes. Systemic administration of recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV)-PHP.B, allowing brain-wide enriched TRIM9 expression, effectively resolved neuroinflammation and alleviated neuronal death in aging mice. This reveals that TRIM9 is essential for fine tuning of NF-κB-dependent neuroinflammation, and TRIM9-potentiation based therapy may offer a new approach for the treatment of stroke and inflammation-related neurological disorders.
Project description:Genipin is a natural blue colorant in food industry. Inflammation is correlated with human disorders, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is the critical molecule involved in inflammation. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of genipin on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute systemic inflammation in mice was evaluated by NF-κB bioluminescence-guided transcriptomic analysis. Transgenic mice carrying the NF-κB-driven luciferase genes were administered intraperitoneally with LPS and various amounts of genipin. Bioluminescent imaging showed that genipin significantly suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB-dependent luminescence in vivo. The suppression of LPS-induced acute inflammation by genipin was further evidenced by the reductions of cytokine levels in sera and organs. Microarray analysis of these organs showed that the transcripts of 79 genes were differentially expressed in both LPS and LPS/genipin groups, and one third of these genes belonged to chemokine ligand, chemokine receptor, and interferon (IFN)-induced protein genes. Moreover, network analysis showed that NF-κB played a critical role in the regulation of genipin-affected gene expression. In conclusion, we newly identified that genipin exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in a model of LPSinduced acute systemic inflammation via downregulation of chemokine ligand, chemokine receptor, and IFN-induced protein productions. A total of 25 transgenic mice (female, 6 to 8 weeks old) were randomly divided into five groups of five mice: (1) mock, no treatment; (2) LPS (4 mg/kg), (3) LPS plus genipin (1 mg/kg), (4) LPS plus genipin (10 mg/kg), and (5) LPS plus genipin (100 mg/kg). Mice were challenged intraperitoneally with LPS and then with genipin 10 min later. Four hours later, mice were imaged for the luciferase activity, and subsequently sacrificed for ex vivo imaging, RNA extraction, and immunohistochemical staining.