Infiltration of M1, but not M2, macrophages is impaired after unilateral ureter obstruction in Nrf2-deficient mice

Chronic inflammation can be a major driver of the failure of a variety of organs, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). The NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has been shown to play a pivotal role in inflammation in a mouse kidney disease model. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), the master transcription factor for anti-oxidant responses, has also been implicated in inflammasome activation under physiological conditions. However, the mechanism underlying inflammasome activation in CKD remains elusive. Here, we show that the loss of Nrf2 suppresses fibrosis and inflammation in a unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO) model of CKD in mice. We consistently observed decreased expression of inflammation-related genes NLRP3 and IL-1β in Nrf2-deficient kidneys after UUO. Increased infiltration of M1, but not M2, macrophages appears to mediate the suppression of UUO-induced CKD symptoms. Furthermore, we found that activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is attenuated in Nrf2-deficient bone marrow–derived macrophages. These results demonstrate that Nrf2-related inflammasome activation can promote CKD symptoms via infiltration of M1 macrophages. Thus, we have identified the Nrf2 pathway as a promising therapeutic target for CKD

Decreases in the Serum VLDL-TG/Non-VLDL-TG Ratio from Early Stages of Chronic Hepatitis C: Alterations in TG-Rich Lipoprotein Levels

BACKGROUND: The liver secretes very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) and plays a key role in lipid metabolism. Plasma total triglyceride (TG) level variations have been studied in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic hepatitis (CH-C). However, the results of these studies are variable. A homogenous assay protocol was recently proposed to directly measure the TG content in VLDL (VLDL-TG) and VLDL remnants. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using the assay protocol, we determined serum VLDL-TG levels in 69 fasting patients with biopsy-proven HCV-related chronic liver disease and 50 healthy subjects. Patients were classified into stages F0-F4 using the 5-point Desmet scale. Serum total TG levels in patients with non-cirrhotic (F1-F3) CH-C did not demonstrate significant differences compared with healthy subjects, but serum VLDL-TG levels did demonstrate significant differences. Mean serum VLDL-TG levels tended to decrease with disease progression from F1 to F4 (cirrhosis). Compared with healthy subjects, serum non-VLDL-TG levels significantly increased in patients with stages F2 and F3 CH-C; however, we observed no significant difference in patients with liver cirrhosis. Furthermore, the serum VLDL-TG/non-VLDL-TG ratio, when taken, demonstrated a significant decrease in patients with CH-C from the mildest stage F1 onward. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The decrease in serum VLDL-TG levels was attenuated by increase in non-VLDL-TG levels in patients with non-cirrhotic CH-C, resulting in comparable total TG levels. Results of previous studies though variable, were confirmed to have a logical basis. The decrease in the serum VLDL-TG/non-VLDL-TG ratio as early as stage F1 demonstrated TG metabolic alterations in early stages of CH-C for the first time. The involvement of TG metabolism in CH-C pathogenesis has been established in experimental animals, while conventional TG measurements are generally considered as poor indicators of CH-C progression in clinical practice. The serum VLDL-TG/non-VLDL-TG ratio, which focuses on TG metabolic alterations, may be an early indicator of CH-C

Expression of immunoregulatory molecules by thyrocytes protects nonobese diabetic-H2h4 mice from developing autoimmune thyroiditis.

One approach to prevent tissue destruction by autoimmune attack in organ-specific autoimmune diseases is to protect the target tissue from autoimmune reaction, regardless of its persistent activity. To provide proof-of-principle for the feasibility of this approach, the immunoregulatory molecules, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase, were expressed in the thyroid glands using adenovirus vector in nonobese diabetic-H2(h4) mice that spontaneously develop thyroiditis. Mice were anesthetized, and the thyroid glands were exposed by neck dissection, followed by in situ infection with adenovirus vector (5 x 10(10) particles per mouse) twice or thrice, starting 1 d or 4 wk before mice were supplied with sodium iodine (NaI) water. After 8 wk NaI provision, the extent of thyroiditis, serum titers of antithyroglobulin antibodies, and cytokine expression in the spleen were examined. In situ infection of adenovirus expressing TRAIL or indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase, but not green fluorescent protein, significantly suppressed thyroiditis scores. However, antithyroglobulin antibody titers and expression levels of cytokines (interferon-gamma and IL-4) in the spleen remained unaltered. Importantly, adenovirus infection 4 wk after NaI provision was also effective at suppressing thyroiditis. The suppressive effect of TRAIL appears to be mediated at least partly by accumulation of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells into the thyroid glands. Thus, localized expression of immunoregulatory molecules efficiently protected the thyroid glands from autoimmune attack without changing the systemic autoimmunity in nonobese diabetic-H2(h4) mice. This kind of immunological intervention, although it does not suppress autoimmune reactivity, may have a potential for treating organ-specific autoimmune diseases

マウス横紋筋融解症誘発性急性腎障害モデルにおけるNrf2活性化の意義の検討

生体は親電子性物質，活性酸素種によって生成される酸化ストレスから生体を保護する応答システムを有している．Keap1（Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1） -Nrf2（NF-E2 related factor2）システムがこの応答機構において重要な役割を果たす．核内移行したNrf2は転写因子として，NQO1，HO-1などの抗酸化遺伝子群の発現を制御する．　横紋筋融解症による急性腎障害（AKI: Acute Kidney Injury）の機序として，酸化ストレスが尿細管障害に大きく関与する．それ故，横紋筋融解症誘発性AKI においてもNrf2活性化による腎保護効果が期待される．横紋筋融解症誘発性AKI におけるNrf2活性化の意義と治療標的としての可能性を検討した．ヒト近位尿細管上皮細胞（hPTECs）を用いhemin 刺激に対するNrf2活性化の意義を検討した．hemin 刺激によりhPTECs におけるNrf2関連抗酸化遺伝子群の上昇，細胞障害を認めた．Nrf2-siRNA によるNrf2ノックダウン（KD）を行うことでhemin 刺激に対する抗酸化遺伝子群の発現上昇は抑制され，細胞障害が有意に増悪した．野生型マウス （WT），Nrf2欠損マウス（Nrf2KO）を用い，グリセロール筋注による横紋筋融解症モデルを作成した．（１）WT/Cont，（２）WT/ 横紋筋融解症（RM），（３）Nrf2KO/Cont，（４）Nrf2KO/RM の４群で比較検討した．結果は，WT/Cont に比べWT/RM 群で腎機能障害，尿細管障害，マクロファージ浸潤を認め，Nrf2KO/RM 群で有意に増悪した．抗酸化遺伝子群の発現はNrf2KO/RM 群で低下していた．　横紋筋融解症誘発性AKI において，Nrf2活性化が腎保護効果を有する事が示された．横紋筋融解症によるAKI に対して，Nrf2活性化が新たな治療標的となり得ることが明らかとなった．Cells are equipped with cytoprotective systems against oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species and electrophilic stress. The Keap1-Nrf2 pathway plays a central role in such mechanisms against oxidative and xenobiotic damage. Nrf2, as a transcription factor, activates a series of genes including NQO1 and HO-1.As the mechanism of acute kidney injury (AKI) due to rhabdomyolysis, renal tubule injury due to oxidative stress is the major component of the pathology. Therefore, in rhabdomyolysisinduced AKI, reno-protective effect of Nrf2 activation is expected. In the present study, the role of Nrf2 activation in rhabdomyolysis-induced AKI was investigated. In vitro, human proximal tubular epithelial cells (hPTECs) were used to determine the significance of Nrf2 for hemin stimulation. Hemin stimulation revealed elevation of Nrf2-related antioxidant gene group and cytotoxicity. Nrf2 knockdown (KD) with Nrf2-siRNA suppressed the rise of the expression of the antioxidant genes against hemin stimulation, and the cell damage was significantly exacerbated. A model of rhabdomyolysis by glycerol intramuscular injection was also prepared in vivo using wild type mice (WT) and Nrf2-deficient mice (Nrf2 KO). These mice were of the C57BL/6J background. We divided them into four groups: (1) WT/Cont, (2) WT/rhabdomyolysis (RM), (3) Nrf2 KO/Cont, and (4) Nrf2 KO/RM. Renal dysfunction and macrophage infiltration occurred more often in the WT/RM than in the WT/Cont, and it significantly worsened in the Nrf2 KO/RM group compared to the WT/RM. The expression of the antioxidant gene group was suppressed more in the Nrf2 KO/RM group compared with the WT/RM.These results indicate that Nrf2 activation exerts reno-protective effect in rhabdomyolysisinduced AKI. Nrf2 activation may be a new therapeutic target for rhabdomyolysis-induced AKI

Preventive Effects of Chlorogenic Acid on Alveolar Bone Loss in Ligature-Induced Periodontitis in Mice

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a polyphenol that is present in coffee beans, many vegetables, and fruits. Since CGA has been reported to exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, it is expected to protect against periodontitis. In the present study, we used a ligature-induced experimental periodontitis model and investigated the beneficial effects of CGA against alveolar bone resorption caused by experimental periodontitis. To examine the inhibitory effects of CGA on bone loss, a ligature was wrapped around the maxillary right second molar, and CGA was intraperitoneally injected once a day for 2 weeks. In another experiment to investigate the restorative effects of CGA on bone loss, a ligature was wrapped around the maxillary right second molar for 2 weeks, it was then removed, and CGA was intraperitoneally injected once a day for 2 weeks. At the end of the experiments, the maxillae were removed, and CT images were taken. Alveolar bone loss was measured as the distance from the cement–enamel junction to the alveolar crest. The statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism6 (Dunn’s multiple comparison test). The results revealed that the ratio of the buccal alveolar bone loss (vs. the bone loss on the nonligated side) induced by ligation was significantly decreased by the administration of CGA (5 mg/kg) for 2 weeks. Moreover, the bone loss ratio on the buccal and palatal sides after 2 weeks of ligation was significantly decreased by the 2-week administration of CGA (5 mg/kg). The present results revealed that CGA exerted preventive effects against alveolar bone loss caused by experimental periodontitis

The eNOS-NO pathway attenuates kidney dysfunction via suppression of inflammasome activation in aldosterone-induced renal injury model mice.

Hypertension causes vascular complications, such as stroke, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The relationship between endothelial dysfunction and progression of kidney disease is well known. However, the relationship between the eNOS-NO pathway and chronic inflammation, which is a common pathway for the progression of kidney disease, remains unexplored. We performed in vivo experiments to determine the role of the eNOS-NO pathway by using eNOS-deficient mice in a hypertensive kidney disease model. All mice were unilateral nephrectomized (Nx). One week after Nx, the mice were randomly divided into two groups: the aldosterone infusion groups and the vehicle groups. All mice also received a 1% NaCl solution instead of drinking water. The aldosterone infusion groups were treated with hydralazine to correct blood pressure differences. After four weeks of drug administration, all mice were euthanized, and blood and kidney tissue samples were collected. In the results, NLRP3 inflammasome activation was elevated in the kidneys of the eNOS-deficient mice, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis was accelerated. Suppression of inflammasome activation by knocking out ASC prevented tubulointerstitial injury in the eNOS knockout mice, indicating that the eNOS-NO pathway is involved in the development of kidney dysfunction through acceleration of NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages. We revealed that endothelial function, particularly the eNOS-NO pathway, attenuates the progression of renal tubulointerstitial injury via suppression of inflammasome activation. Clinically, patients who develop vascular endothelial dysfunction have lifestyle diseases, such as hypertension or diabetes, and are known to be at risk for CKD. Our study suggests that the eNOS-NO pathway could be a therapeutic target for the treatment of chronic kidney disease associated with endothelial dysfunction