Oxidized phospholipids are proinflammatory and proatherogenic in hypercholesterolaemic mice.

Oxidized phospholipids (OxPL) are ubiquitous, are formed in many inflammatory tissues, including atherosclerotic lesions, and frequently mediate proinflammatory changes 1 . Because OxPL are mostly the products of non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation, mechanisms to specifically neutralize them are unavailable and their roles in vivo are largely unknown. We previously cloned the IgM natural antibody E06, which binds to the phosphocholine headgroup of OxPL, and blocks the uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) by macrophages and inhibits the proinflammatory properties of OxPL2-4. Here, to determine the role of OxPL in vivo in the context of atherogenesis, we generated transgenic mice in the Ldlr-/- background that expressed a single-chain variable fragment of E06 (E06-scFv) using the Apoe promoter. E06-scFv was secreted into the plasma from the liver and macrophages, and achieved sufficient plasma levels to inhibit in vivo macrophage uptake of OxLDL and to prevent OxPL-induced inflammatory signalling. Compared to Ldlr-/- mice, Ldlr -/- E06-scFv mice had 57-28% less atherosclerosis after 4, 7 and even 12 months of 1% high-cholesterol diet. Echocardiographic and histologic evaluation of the aortic valves demonstrated that E06-scFv ameliorated the development of aortic valve gradients and decreased aortic valve calcification. Both cholesterol accumulation and in vivo uptake of OxLDL were decreased in peritoneal macrophages, and both peritoneal and aortic macrophages had a decreased inflammatory phenotype. Serum amyloid A was decreased by 32%, indicating decreased systemic inflammation, and hepatic steatosis and inflammation were also decreased. Finally, the E06-scFv prolonged life as measured over 15 months. Because the E06-scFv lacks the functional effects of an intact antibody other than the ability to bind OxPL and inhibit OxLDL uptake in macrophages, these data support a major proatherogenic role of OxLDL and demonstrate that OxPL are proinflammatory and proatherogenic, which E06 counteracts in vivo. These studies suggest that therapies inactivating OxPL may be beneficial for reducing generalized inflammation, including the progression of atherosclerosis, aortic stenosis and hepatic steatosis

Toxopain-1 Is Critical for Infection in a Novel Chicken Embryo Model of Congenital Toxoplasmosis

We tested the hypothesis that cathepsins and specifically toxopain-1, a cathepsin B, play a critical role in the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis. We found that inhibiting the expression of toxopain-1-specific mRNA and protein by >60% significantly decreased the capacity of the parasites to multiply and invade in vitro. To relate these in vitro results to the role of toxopain-1 in pathogenesis in vivo, we developed a novel chicken embryo model of congenital toxoplasmosis. Inhibiting either toxopain-1 expression or specific cysteine proteinase activity significantly reduced congenital infection of chicken embryos, as determined by histopathology and by the number of parasites quantified by real-time PCR. Our new model provides key in vivo validation for the hypothesis that toxopain-1 is a potential drug target in Toxoplasma gondii and also provides a new animal model for rapid, inexpensive screening of antiparasitic compounds

A Surface Amebic Cysteine Proteinase Inactivates Interleukin-18

Amebiasis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Invasion by Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites causes secretion of proinflammatory cytokines from host epithelial cells, leading to a local acute inflammatory response, followed by lysis of colonic cells. Extracellular cysteine proteinases from amebic trophozoites are key virulence factors and have a number of important interactions with host defenses, including cleavage of immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, and complement components C3 and C5. Amebic lysates have also been shown to activate the precursor to interleukin 1-beta (proIL-1β), mimicking the action of caspase-1. IL-18 is also a central cytokine, which induces gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and activates macrophages, one of the main host defenses against invading trophozoites. Because proIL-18 is also activated by caspase-1, we evaluated whether amebic proteinases had a similar effect. Instead, we found that recombinant proIL-18 was cleaved into smaller fragments by the complex of surface-associated and released amebic proteinases. To evaluate the function of an individual proteinase from the complex pool, we expressed an active surface proteinase, EhCP5, which is functional only in E. histolytica. Recombinant EhCP5 expressed in Pichia pastoris had kinetic properties similar to those of the native enzyme with respect to substrate specificity and sensitivity to proteinase inhibitors. In contrast to the activation of proIL-1β by amebic lysates, the purified proteinase cleaved proIL-18 and mature IL-18 to biologically inactive fragments. These studies suggest that the acute host response and amebic invasion result from a complex interplay of parasite virulence factors and host defenses. E. histolytica may block the host inflammatory response by a novel mechanism, inactivation of IL-18

Oxidation-specific epitopes restrain bone formation

Atherosclerosis and osteoporosis are epidemiologically linked and oxidation specific epitopes (OSEs), such as phosphocholine (PC) of oxidized phospholipids (PC-OxPL) and malondialdehyde (MDA), are pathogenic in both. The proatherogenic effects of OSEs are opposed by innate immune antibodies. Here we show that high-fat diet (HFD)-induced bone loss is attenuated in mice expressing a single chain variable region fragment of the IgM E06 (E06-scFv) that neutralizes PC-OxPL, by increasing osteoblast number and stimulating bone formation. Similarly, HFD-induced bone loss is attenuated in mice expressing IK17-scFv, which neutralizes MDA. Notably, E06-scFv also increases bone mass in mice fed a normal diet. Moreover, the levels of anti-PC IgM decrease in aged mice. We conclude that OSEs, whether produced chronically or increased by HFD, restrain bone formation, and that diminished defense against OSEs may contribute to age-related bone loss. Anti-OSEs, therefore, may represent a novel therapeutic approach against osteoporosis and atherosclerosis simultaneously

Oxidation-specific epitopes restrain bone formation.

Atherosclerosis and osteoporosis are epidemiologically linked and oxidation specific epitopes (OSEs), such as phosphocholine (PC) of oxidized phospholipids (PC-OxPL) and malondialdehyde (MDA), are pathogenic in both. The proatherogenic effects of OSEs are opposed by innate immune antibodies. Here we show that high-fat diet (HFD)-induced bone loss is attenuated in mice expressing a single chain variable region fragment of the IgM E06 (E06-scFv) that neutralizes PC-OxPL, by increasing osteoblast number and stimulating bone formation. Similarly, HFD-induced bone loss is attenuated in mice expressing IK17-scFv, which neutralizes MDA. Notably, E06-scFv also increases bone mass in mice fed a normal diet. Moreover, the levels of anti-PC IgM decrease in aged mice. We conclude that OSEs, whether produced chronically or increased by HFD, restrain bone formation, and that diminished defense against OSEs may contribute to age-related bone loss. Anti-OSEs, therefore, may represent a novel therapeutic approach against osteoporosis and atherosclerosis simultaneously

Peptide mimotopes of malondialdehyde epitopes for clinical applications in cardiovascular disease

Autoantibodies specific for malondialdehyde-modified LDL (MDA-LDL) represent potential biomarkers to predict cardiovascular risk. However, MDA-LDL is a high variability antigen with limited reproducibility. To identify peptide mimotopes of MDA-LDL, phage display libraries were screened with the MDA-LDL-specific IgM monoclonal Ab LRO4, and the specificity and antigenic properties of MDA mimotopes were assessed in vitro and in vivo. We identified one 12-mer linear (P1) and one 7-mer cyclic (P2) peptide carrying a consensus sequence, which bound specifically to murine and human anti-MDA monoclonal Abs. Furthermore, MDA mimotopes were found to mimic MDA epitopes on the surface of apoptotic cells. Immunization of mice with P2 resulted in the induction of MDA-LDL-specific Abs, which strongly immunostained human atherosclerotic lesions. We detected IgG and IgM autoAbs to both MDA mimotopes in sera of healthy subjects and patients with myocardial infarction and stable angina pectoris undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, and the titers of autoAbs correlated significantly with respective Ab titers against MDA-LDL. In conclusion, we identified specific peptides that are immunological mimotopes of MDA. These mimotopes can serve as standardized and reproducible antigens that will be useful for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in cardiovascular disease

A Neutralizing Antibody Targeting Oxidized Phospholipids Promotes Bone Anabolism in Chow-Fed Young Adult Mice.

Oxidized phospholipids containing phosphocholine (OxPL) are pro-inflammatory lipid peroxidation products that bind to scavenger receptors (SRs), such as Scarb1, and toll-like receptors (TLRs). Excessive OxPL, as found in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), overwhelm these defense mechanisms and become pathogenic in atherosclerosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and osteoporosis. We previously reported that the innate IgM natural antibody E06 binds to OxPL and neutralizes their deleterious effects; expression of the single-chain (scFv) form of the antigen-binding domain of E06 (E06-scFv) as a transgene increases trabecular bone in male mice. We show herein that E06-scFv increases trabecular and cortical bone in female and male mice by increasing bone formation and decreasing osteoblast apoptosis in vivo. Homozygous E06-scFv mice have higher bone mass than hemizygous, showing a dose effect of the transgene. To investigate how OxPL restrain bone formation under physiologic conditions, we measured the levels of SRs and TLRs that bind OxPL. We found that osteoblastic cells primarily express Scarb1. Moreover, OxLDL-induced apoptosis and reduced differentiation were prevented in bone marrow-derived or calvaria-derived osteoblasts from Scarb1 knockout mice. Because Scarb1-deficient mice are reported to have high bone mass, our results suggest that E06 may promote bone anabolism in healthy young mice, at least in part, by neutralizing OxPL, which in turn promote Scarb1-mediated apoptosis of osteoblasts or osteoblast precursors. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).