Potential genetic modifiers of the cystic fibrosis intestinal inflammatory phenotype on mouse chromosomes 1, 9, and 10

BACKGROUND:Although cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, the severity of disease is highly variable indicating the influence of modifier genes. The intestines of Cftr deficient mice (CF mice: Cftrtm1Unc) are prone to obstruction by excessive mucus accumulation and are used as a model of meconium ileus and distal intestinal obstruction syndrome. This phenotype is strongly dependent on the genetic background of the mice. On the C57Bl/6 background, the majority of CF mice cannot survive on solid mouse chow, have inflammation of the small intestine, and are about 30% smaller than wild type littermates. In this work potential modifier loci of the CF intestinal phenotype were identified.RESULTS:CF mice on a mixed genetic background (95% C57Bl/6 and 5% 129Sv) were compared to CF mice congenic on the C57Bl/6 background for several parameters of the intestinal CF phenotype. CF mice on the mixed background exhibit significantly greater survival when fed dry mouse chow, have reduced intestinal inflammation as measured by quantitative RT-PCR for marker genes, have near normal body weight gain, and have reduced mucus accumulation in the intestinal crypts. There was an indication of a gender effect for body weight gain: males did not show a significant improvement at 4 weeks of age, but were of normal weight at 8 weeks, while females showed improvement at both 4 and 8 weeks. By a preliminary genome-wide PCR allele scanning, three regions were found to be potentially associated with the milder phenotype. One on chr.1, defined by marker D1Mit36, one on chr. 9 defined by marker D9Mit90, and one on chr. 10, defined by marker D10Mit14.CONCLUSION:Potential modifier regions were found that have a positive impact on the inflammatory phenotype of the CF mouse small intestine and animal survival. Identification of polymorphisms in specific genes in these regions should provide important new information about genetic modifiers of the CF intestinal phenotype

Caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice that constitutively overexpress Reg/PAP genes

BACKGROUND: The cystic fibrosis (CF) mouse pancreas has constitutively elevated expression of the Reg/PAP cell stress genes (60-fold greater Reg3α, and 10-fold greater PAP/Reg3β and Reg3γ). These genes are suggested to be involved in protection or recovery from pancreatic injury. METHODS: To test this idea the supramaximal caerulein model was used to induce acute pancreatitis in wild type and CF mice. Serum amylase, pancreatic water content (as a measure of edema), pancreatic myeloperoxidase activity, and Reg/PAP expression were quantified. RESULTS: In both wild type and CF mice caerulein induced similar elevations in serum amylase (maximal at 12 h), pancreatic edema (maximal at 7 h), and pancreatic myeloperoxidase activity (MPO, a marker of neutrophil infiltration; maximal at 7 h). By immunohistochemistry, Reg3α was strongly expressed in the untreated CF pancreas but not in wild type. During pancreatitis, Reg3α was intensely expressed in foci of inflamed tissue in both wild type and CF. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that the severity of caerulein-induced pancreatitis is not ameliorated in the CF mouse even though the Reg/PAP stress genes are already highly upregulated. While Reg/PAP may be protective they may also have a negative effect during pancreatitis due to their anti-apoptotic activity, which has been shown to increase the severity of pancreatitis

Targeting and killing of glioblastoma with activated T cells armed with bispecific antibodies

Abstract Background Since most glioblastomas express both wild-type EGFR and EGFRvIII as well as HER2/neu, they are excellent targets for activated T cells (ATC) armed with bispecific antibodies (BiAbs) that target EGFR and HER2. Methods ATC were generated from PBMC activated for 14 days with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody in the presence of interleukin-2 and armed with chemically heteroconjugated anti-CD3×anti-HER2/neu (HER2Bi) and/or anti-CD3×anti-EGFR (EGFRBi). HER2Bi- and/or EGFRBi-armed ATC were examined for in vitro cytotoxicity using MTT and 51Cr-release assays against malignant glioma lines (U87MG, U118MG, and U251MG) and primary glioblastoma lines. Results EGFRBi-armed ATC killed up to 85% of U87, U118, and U251 targets at effector:target ratios (E:T) ranging from 1:1 to 25:1. Engagement of tumor by EGFRBi-armed ATC induced Th1 and Th2 cytokine secretion by armed ATC. HER2Bi-armed ATC exhibited comparable cytotoxicity against U118 and U251, but did not kill HER2-negative U87 cells. HER2Bi- or EGFRBi-armed ATC exhibited 50—80% cytotoxicity against four primary glioblastoma lines as well as a temozolomide (TMZ)-resistant variant of U251. Both CD133– and CD133+ subpopulations were killed by armed ATC. Targeting both HER2Bi and EGFRBi simultaneously showed enhanced efficacy than arming with a single BiAb. Armed ATC maintained effectiveness after irradiation and in the presence of TMZ at a therapeutic concentration and were capable of killing multiple targets. Conclusion High-grade gliomas are suitable for specific targeting by armed ATC. These data, together with additional animal studies, may provide the preclinical support for the use of armed ATC as a valuable addition to current treatment regimens

Bacterial Overgrowth in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Null Mouse Small Intestine

We recently reported the inflammation of the cystic fibrosis (CF) mouse small intestine, and we hypothesized bacterial overgrowth as a possible cause. Quantitative PCR of bacterial 16S genomic DNA in the CF mouse small intestine revealed an increase of greater than 40-fold compared to controls. Sequencing of 16S PCR products and Gram staining showed that the majority of bacteria in the CF mouse intestine were gram negative. Bacteria were observed to colonize the mucus that accumulates in the intestinal lumen of mice with CF. Impaired Paneth cell defenses were suggested by observation of partially dispersed Paneth granules in the mucus plugs of CF mouse intestinal crypts, and this mucus was strongly immunoreactive for Paneth cell bactericidal products. The role of bacterial overgrowth in intestinal inflammation in CF was tested by treating mice with oral antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and metronidazole) for 3 weeks, which reduced bacterial load in the CF mouse small intestine over 400-fold. Antibiotic treatment decreased the expression of the inflammation-related genes mast cell protease 2, leucine-rich α2 glycoprotein/leucine-rich high endothelial venule glycoprotein, suppressor of cytokine signaling 3, hematopoietic cell transcript 1, and resistin-like molecule β/found in inflammatory zone 2, all of which were no longer expressed at levels significantly different from control levels. The reduction of intestinal bacteria also significantly improved the growth of CF mice but had no effect on the growth of wild-type mice. These data suggest that bacterial overgrowth in the CF mouse small intestine has a role in inflammation and contributes to the failure to thrive in this mouse model of CF

Acute alcohol activates STAT3, AP-1, and Sp-1 transcription factors via the family of Src kinases to promote IL-10 production in human monocytes

Alcohol consumption is associated with an imbalance in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and immunosuppression, partially as a result of enhanced IL-10 production. The mechanisms of IL-10 induction by alcohol remain poorly understood. We identified that increased IL-10 production in human monocytes after acute in vivo alcohol consumption or in vitro alcohol treatment was associated with increased STAT3 activation. Alcohol alone induced and in combination with LPS augmented STAT3 phosphorylation at tyrosine 705 (tyr705) and serine 727 (ser727) residues and increased STAT3 binding to DNA. Upstream, alcohol activated the Src kinases, as indicated by an increase in phosphorylated and a decrease in nonphosphorylated Src proteins. STAT3 activation by Src kinases occurred directly at the tyr705 residue and indirectly at the ser727 residue via JNK MAPKs. Using specific Src (PP2), JNK1/2 (SB600125), or p38 (SB203580) inhibitors, we determined that alcohol treatment alone induced and together with LPS, augmented the DNA-binding capacity of the specificity protein-1 (Sp-1) and AP-1 transcription factors involved in IL-10 production via Src-mediated activation of p38 MAPK and JNK, respectively. Our data suggest that acute alcohol activates Src/STAT3 and Src/MAPK/STAT3, AP-1, and Sp-1 pathways as important mechanisms for IL-10-mediated immunomodulation after acute alcohol use

Viral and host factors induce macrophage activation and loss of toll-like receptor tolerance in chronic HCV infection

BACKGROUND and AIMS: Persistent inflammation contributes to progression of liver damage in chronic HCV (cHCV) infection. Repeated exposure to toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands results in tolerance, a protective mechanism aimed at limiting inflammation. METHODS: Monocytes/macrophages were repeatedly stimulated via proinflammatory cytokine-inducing TLRs and evaluated for activation markers. RESULTS: Unlike monocytes of controls or patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, the monocytes of cHCV patients were hyperresponsive and failed to show homo- or heterotolerance to TLR ligands, manifested by elevated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production. Serum levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma, endotoxin (TLR4 ligand), and HCV core protein (TLR2 ligand) were elevated in cHCV patients suggesting potential mechanisms for in vivo monocyte preactivation. Treatment of normal monocytes with IFN-gamma resulted in loss of tolerance to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or HCV core protein. Furthermore, we found increased levels of MyD88-IRAK1 complexes and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activity both in monocytes of cHCV patients and in normal monocytes that lost TLR tolerance after IFN-gamma + LPS pretreatment. In vitro differentiation of TLR non-tolerant cHCV monocytes into macrophages restored their capacity to exhibit TLR tolerance to LPS and HCV core protein, and this could be reversed by administration of IFN-gamma. cHCV patients exhibited increased TNF-alpha in the circulation and in the liver. In cHCV livers, we found Kupffer cell/macrophage activation indicated by increased CD163 and CD33 expression. CONCLUSIONS: We identified that host-derived factors (IFN-gamma and endotoxin) and viral factors (HCV core protein) act in tandem to induce and maintain monocyte/macrophage activation, thus favoring persistent inflammation in patients with cHCV infection