Interleuchina-32 ed immunità innata: studio di modelli di flogosi in vitro in cellule epiteliali alveolari e monociti-macrofagi

Background IL32 is a recently described proinflammatory cytokine produced by T lymphocytes, natural killer cells, monocytes and epithelial cells. Several studies have demonstrated the importance of IL32 in the regulation of the innate and adaptive immune responses, moreover, it has been found over expressed in inflammatory disorders and in autoimmune diseases. In this project, we focused our attention on studying Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) because we think it is a good model for studying the role of IL32 in the innate immunity. Infact, IL32 expression was found to be increased in alveolar macrophages and in lung epithelial cells of smokers with COPD compared to non-smokers. COPD is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by an irreversible limitation on pulmonary airflow associated with chronic inflammation due to several etiological factors such as cigarette smoke. Alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages are primarily involved in its pathogenesis because they secrete cytokines and chemokines recruiting inflammatory cells which sustain the phlogosis. The final effect is lung parenchyma destruction and remodeling . Aim of the study The aim of this study was to investigate the role of IL32 in response to lung injury and in inflammation induced by cigarette smoke. Firstly, ee evaluated if cigarette smoke extract (CSE) was cytotoxic for the lung epithelial cells and macrophages by inducing their apoptosis; then, we investigated if CSE activated epithelial cells by increasing the expression of some proinflammatory cytokines and growth factors. Secondly, we studied if CSE induced IL32 expression by epithelial cells and macrophages and we search for a synergic effect between CSE and other proinflammatory stimuli. Methods For our experiments we employed an alveolar epithelial cell line, A549, and macrophages obtained by THP1 differentiation. Cells were treated with CSE, with PAMPs and IL1β. The PAMPs we used were: polyI:C, imiquimod, MDP and ieDAP.. We evaluated cell viability with Annexin V flow cytometric assay. Moreover, we quantified the mRNA levels of IL32 and other cytokines such as CCL2/MCP1, RAGE and TNF-α with Real Time-PCR. Finally, we investigated IL32 protein expression by Western Blotting and we analyzed its secretion in the conditioned medium from cell cultures with ELISA test. Results We demonstrated that CSE, at low concentration (5%), was able to induce apoptosis of the A549. Moreover, it concurred to their activation by inducing the expression of the proinflammatory CCL2/MCP1 and RAGE and, more importantly, we found that it increased IL32 transcript levels, particularly those of isoform β. In order to test if CSE made epithelial cells more susceptible to the action of other proinflammatory stimuli, cells were treated with CSE together with PAMPs or IL1β. We observed that cells treated with IL1β and CSE showed higher levels of IL32β mRNA compared to those treated with the single stimuli. On the other hand, macrophages resulted to be more resistant to apoptosis induced by CSE dying only at high concentration (20%). Moreover, CSE induced a significant increase of TNF-α expression. More importantly, macrophages treated with CSE showed higher levels of IL32 compared with non-treated cells and this effect resulted to be amplified when they were co-stimulated with IL1β. Discussion These data suggest that cigarette smoke represents an important cytotoxic factor for the epithelium which seems to have a key role in the initial lung injury response. Alveolar epithelial cells activation leads to the production of some factors which recruit macrophages whom trigger the immune response. IL32 seems to be strongly involved in these processes because it is produced both by epithelial cells and macrophages and its expression seems to be enforced by the inflammatory settin

Unexpected readings: looking for beauty in books at the Veneto Institute of Oncology.

Hospices are specialized facilities for palliative care. With the purpose of improving the quality of life and making the Veneto Institute of Oncology (IOV) a more reassuring and less impersonal place, the Scientific Library has designed a project called Letture inattese (Unexpected Readings) that brings books to guests, carers and the health workforce of the Hospice. With people in mind, rather than their illness, this project aims to generate a moment of wonderment, relief and recreation through the beauty that can be found in books. This first non-scientific patients’ library at IOV intends to create opportunities for deepening the quality of human relationships between the patients, their families and the healthcare professionals

Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 regulates multiple myeloma cell growth and bortezomib-induced cell death

BACKGROUND: Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK-3) \u3b1 and \u3b2 are two serine-threonine kinases controlling insulin, Wnt/\u3b2-catenin, NF-\u3baB signaling and other cancer-associated transduction pathways. Recent evidence suggests that GSK-3 could function as growth-promoting kinases, especially in malignant cells. In this study, we have investigated GSK-3\u3b1 and GSK-3\u3b2 function in multiple myeloma (MM). METHODS: GSK-3 \u3b1 and \u3b2 expression and cellular localization were investigated by Western blot (WB) and immunofluorescence analysis in a panel of MM cell lines and in freshly isolated plasma cells from patients. MM cell growth, viability and sensitivity to bortezomib was assessed upon treatment with GSK-3 specific inhibitors or transfection with siRNAs against GSK-3 \u3b1 and \u3b2 isoforms. Survival signaling pathways were studied with WB analysis. RESULTS: GSK-3\u3b1 and GSK-3\u3b2 were differently expressed and phosphorylated in MM cells. Inhibition of GSK-3 with the ATP-competitive, small chemical compounds SB216763 and SB415286 caused MM cell growth arrest and apoptosis through the activation of the intrinsic pathway. Importantly, the two inhibitors augmented the bortezomib-induced MM cell cytotoxicity. RNA interference experiments showed that the two GSK-3 isoforms have distinct roles: GSK-3\u3b2 knock down decreased MM cell viability, while GSK-3\u3b1 knock down was associated with a higher rate of bortezomib-induced cytotoxicity. GSK-3 inhibition caused accumulation of \u3b2-catenin and nuclear phospho-ERK1, 2. Moreover, GSK-3 inhibition and GSK-3\u3b1 knockdown enhanced bortezomib-induced AKT and MCL-1 protein degradation. Interestingly, bortezomib caused a reduction of GSK-3 serine phosphorylation and its nuclear accumulation with a mechanism that resulted partly dependent on GSK-3 itself. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that in MM cells GSK-3\u3b1 and \u3b2 i) play distinct roles in cell survival and ii) modulate the sensitivity to proteasome inhibitors

Interleuchina-32 ed immunità innata: studio di modelli di flogosi in vitro in cellule epiteliali alveolari e monociti-macrofagi

Background IL32 is a recently described proinflammatory cytokine produced by T lymphocytes, natural killer cells, monocytes and epithelial cells. Several studies have demonstrated the importance of IL32 in the regulation of the innate and adaptive immune responses, moreover, it has been found over expressed in inflammatory disorders and in autoimmune diseases. In this project, we focused our attention on studying Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) because we think it is a good model for studying the role of IL32 in the innate immunity. Infact, IL32 expression was found to be increased in alveolar macrophages and in lung epithelial cells of smokers with COPD compared to non-smokers. COPD is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by an irreversible limitation on pulmonary airflow associated with chronic inflammation due to several etiological factors such as cigarette smoke. Alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages are primarily involved in its pathogenesis because they secrete cytokines and chemokines recruiting inflammatory cells which sustain the phlogosis. The final effect is lung parenchyma destruction and remodeling . Aim of the study The aim of this study was to investigate the role of IL32 in response to lung injury and in inflammation induced by cigarette smoke. Firstly, ee evaluated if cigarette smoke extract (CSE) was cytotoxic for the lung epithelial cells and macrophages by inducing their apoptosis; then, we investigated if CSE activated epithelial cells by increasing the expression of some proinflammatory cytokines and growth factors. Secondly, we studied if CSE induced IL32 expression by epithelial cells and macrophages and we search for a synergic effect between CSE and other proinflammatory stimuli. Methods For our experiments we employed an alveolar epithelial cell line, A549, and macrophages obtained by THP1 differentiation. Cells were treated with CSE, with PAMPs and IL1β. The PAMPs we used were: polyI:C, imiquimod, MDP and ieDAP.. We evaluated cell viability with Annexin V flow cytometric assay. Moreover, we quantified the mRNA levels of IL32 and other cytokines such as CCL2/MCP1, RAGE and TNF-α with Real Time-PCR. Finally, we investigated IL32 protein expression by Western Blotting and we analyzed its secretion in the conditioned medium from cell cultures with ELISA test. Results We demonstrated that CSE, at low concentration (5%), was able to induce apoptosis of the A549. Moreover, it concurred to their activation by inducing the expression of the proinflammatory CCL2/MCP1 and RAGE and, more importantly, we found that it increased IL32 transcript levels, particularly those of isoform β. In order to test if CSE made epithelial cells more susceptible to the action of other proinflammatory stimuli, cells were treated with CSE together with PAMPs or IL1β. We observed that cells treated with IL1β and CSE showed higher levels of IL32β mRNA compared to those treated with the single stimuli. On the other hand, macrophages resulted to be more resistant to apoptosis induced by CSE dying only at high concentration (20%). Moreover, CSE induced a significant increase of TNF-α expression. More importantly, macrophages treated with CSE showed higher levels of IL32 compared with non-treated cells and this effect resulted to be amplified when they were co-stimulated with IL1β. Discussion These data suggest that cigarette smoke represents an important cytotoxic factor for the epithelium which seems to have a key role in the initial lung injury response. Alveolar epithelial cells activation leads to the production of some factors which recruit macrophages whom trigger the immune response. IL32 seems to be strongly involved in these processes because it is produced both by epithelial cells and macrophages and its expression seems to be enforced by the inflammatory settingIntroduzione L’Interleuchina 32 (IL32) è una citochina proinfiammatoria di recente identificazione prodotta dai linfociti T, dalle cellule natural killer (NK), dai monociti e dalle cellule epiteliali. Essa svolge un ruolo chiave nella regolazione della risposta immunitaria ed è espressa in maniera significativa in alcune patologie infiammatorie croniche e a componente autoimmune. In questo studio, abbiamo identificato nella Broncopneumopatia Cronica Ostruttiva (BPCO) un possibile modello per indagare il ruolo di IL32 nell’infiammazione. Infatti, è stato dimostrato che la sua espressione è elevata nei macrofagi alveolari e nell’epitelio polmonare di soggetti fumatori affetti da BPCO rispetto a quelli non fumatori. La BPCO è una malattia caratterizzata dall’ostruzione irreversibile delle piccole vie aeree e da uno stato di infiammazione cronica del tessuto polmonare dovuto all’azione di vari fattori eziologici tra cui il fumo di sigaretta. Le cellule epiteliali alveolari e i macrofagi alveolari sono primariamente implicati nella patogenesi della BPCO, poiché, in risposta al danno, secernono fattori reclutanti le cellule del sistema immunitario che, in seguito, sostengono la flogosi portando, come conseguenza ultima, alla distruzione e al rimodellamento del parenchima polmonare. Scopo della Tesi Lo scopo di questo studio è stato quello di indagare il ruolo di IL32 nei meccanismi di risposta al danno polmonare e nell’innesco della risposta infiammatoria causati dal fumo. Inizialmente, abbiamo valutato se l’estratto di fumo (CSE) era un fattore citotossico per le cellule epiteliali e per i macrofagi e se induceva la loro apoptosi; inoltre, abbiamo indagato se il fumo contribuiva all’attivazione delle cellule modulando l’espressione, da parte di esse, di citochine e di fattori di crescita proinfiammatori. In seguito, abbiamo studiato se il CSE induceva la produzione di IL32 da parte di queste cellule e se esisteva un effetto sinergico tra la loro azione e quella di altri stimoli proinfiammatori nella modulazione dell’espressione di questa citochina. Materiali e metodi Per gli esperimenti abbiamo utilizzato le cellule epiteliali alveolari di tipo II, A549 e i macrofagi ottenuti dal differenziamento della linea monocitica THP1. Le cellule sono state trattate con il CSE, con i PAMPs e con l’IL1β. I PAMPs utilizzati sono: il polyI:C, l’imiquimod, l’MDP e l’ieDAP. La vitalità cellulare è stata valutata mediante test citofluorimetrico con Annessina V; l'espressione genica di CCL2/MCP1, RAGE, TNF-α e di IL32 è stata effettuata mediante Real Time-PCR. L’espressione proteica di IL32 è stata studiata mediante Western Blotting, mentre la presenza della proteina secreta è stata valutata nel sovranatante delle colture cellulari per mezzo del test ELISA. Risultati: Abbiamo dimostrato che il CSE a basse dosi (5%) era in grado di indurre l’apoptosi delle A549. Oltre a ciò, esso contribuiva alla loro attivazione inducendo un aumento dell’espressione di CCL2/MCP1 e di RAGE e, soprattutto, era in grado di aumentare i livelli di espressione genica di IL32, in particolare, quelli dell’isoforma β. Al fine di testare se il CSE rendeva le A549 più sensibili all’azione di altri fattori proinfiammatori, abbiamo co-trattato le cellule con CSE, con i PAMPs o con IL1β. Abbiamo osservato che le cellule trattate con CSE e IL1β avevano livelli di espressione di IL32β più alti rispetto a quelle trattate con gli stimoli da soli. Dall’altra parte, gli esperimenti condotti sui macrofagi hanno evidenziato che essi erano più resistenti all’apoptosi indotta da CSE, infatti, morivano solo ad alte concentrazioni (20%). Inoltre, il trattamento con CSE induceva un significativo aumento dell’espressione di TNF-α. Oltre a ciò, basse dosi di CSE aumentavano significativamente i livelli di espressione di IL32 e questo effetto risultava amplificato dal co-trattamento con CSE e IL1β. Discussione I dati ottenuti suggeriscono che il fumo rappresenta un importante fattore di citotossicità per l’epitelio il quale sembra avere un ruolo cruciale nelle fasi iniziali di risposta al danno. L’attivazione delle cellule alveolari porta alla produzione di mediatori dell’infiammazione che hanno il compito di reclutare i macrofagi i quali innescano la risposta immunitaria. IL32, sembra essere pesantemente coinvolta nei processi descritti poiché viene prodotta sia dalle cellule epiteliali che dai macrofagi e il contesto infiammatorio contribuisce ad amplificarne l’espression

Sarcoidosis is a Th1/Th17 multisystem disorder

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Sarcoidosis is characterised by a compartmentalisation of CD4(+) T helper 1 (Th1) lymphocytes and activated macrophages in involved organs, including the lung. Recently, Th17 effector CD4(+) T cells have been claimed to be involved in the pathogenesis of granuloma formation. The objective of this study was to investigate the involvement of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. METHODS: Peripheral and pulmonary Th17 cells were evaluated by flow cytometry, real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry analyses and functional assays in patients with sarcoidosis in different phases of the disease and in control subjects. RESULTS: Th17 cells were detected both in the peripheral blood (4.72 \ub1 2.27% of CD4(+) T cells) and in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) (8.81 \ub1 2.25% of CD4(+) T lymphocytes) of patients with sarcoidosis and T cell alveolitis. Immunohistochemical analysis of lung and lymph node specimens showed that interleukin 17 (IL-17)(+)/CD4(+) T cells infiltrate sarcoid tissues surrounding the central core of the granuloma. IL-17 was expressed by macrophages infiltrating sarcoid tissue and/or forming the granuloma core (7.88 \ub1 2.40% of alveolar macrophages). Analysis of some lung specimens highlighted the persistence of IL-17(+)/CD4(+) T cells in relapsed patients and their absence in the recovered cases. Migratory assays demonstrated the ability of the Th17 cell to respond to the chemotactic stimulus CCL20-that is, the CCR6 ligand (74.8 \ub1 8.5 vs 7.6 \ub1 2.8 migrating BAL lymphocytes/high-powered field, with and without CCL20, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Th17 cells participate in the alveolitic/granuloma phase and also to the progression towards the fibrotic phase of the disease. The recruitment of this cell subset may be driven by CCL20 chemokine

3-(2,4-Dichlorophenyl)-4-(1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (SB216763), a Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Inhibitor, Displays Therapeutic Properties in a Mouse Model of Pulmonary Inflammation and Fibrosis

Glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3 modulates the production of inflammatory cytokines. Because bleomycin (BLM) causes lung injury, which is characterized by an inflammatory response followed by a fibrotic degeneration, we postulated that blocking GSK-3 activity with a specific inhibitor could affect the inflammatory and profibrotic cytokine network generated in the BLM-induced process of pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Thus, here we investigated the effects of the GSK-3 inhibitor 3-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-(1-methyl-1Hindol-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (SB216763) on a BLM-induced lung fibrosis model in mice. SB216763 prevented lung inflammation and the subsequent fibrosis when coadministered with BLM. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis of mice treated with BLM plus SB216763 revealed a significant reduction in BLM-induced alveolitis. Furthermore, SB216763 treatment was associated with a significantly lower production of inflammatory cytokines by macrophages. BLM-treated mice that received SB216763 developed alveolar epithelial cell damage and pulmonary fibrosis to a significantly lower extent compared with BLM-treated controls. These findings suggest that GSK-3 inhibition has a protective effect on lung fibrosis induced by BLM and candidate GSK-3 as a potential therapeutic target for preventing pulmonary fibrosis