Effects of the Japanese herbal medicine ‘Inchinko-to’ (TJ-135) on concanavalin A-induced hepatitis in mice

2000 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 421-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masayoshi YAMASHIKI ◽  
Akihito MASE ◽  
Ichiro ARAI ◽  
Xian-Xi HUANG ◽  
Tsutomu NOBORI ◽  
...  

Inchinko-to (TJ-135) is a herbal medicine consisting of three kinds of crude drugs, and in Japan it is administered mainly to patients with cholestasis. The present study evaluated the effects of TJ-135 on concanavalin A (con A)-induced hepatitis in mice in vivo and con A-induced cytokine production in vitro. When mice were pretreated with oral TJ-135 for 1 week before intravenous con A injection, the activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly decreased 8 h after con A administration (-82%, -96% and -66% respectively). In histological investigations, sub-massive hepatic necrosis accompanying inflammatory cell infiltration was not observed in mice pretreated with TJ-135. Serum levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and IL-2 were significantly lower in mice pretreated with TJ-135 compared with controls, while IL-10 levels were higher in these mice. Intrasplenic IL-12 levels were significantly lower in mice pretreated with TJ-135, while intrasplenic IL-10 levels were higher in these mice. In vitro, IL-10 production by splenocytes was increased by the addition of TJ-135 to the culture medium, whereas the production of IL-12 and IFN-γ was inhibited. These results suggest that con A-induced hepatitis was ameliorated by pretreatment with TJ-135. With regard to the mechanism of these effects of TJ-135, we speculate that TJ-135 inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokine and enhances the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore administration of TJ-135 may be useful in patients with severe acute hepatitis accompanying cholestasis or in those with autoimmune hepatitis.

Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 1612-1621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Yao ◽  
Cecilia Sgadari ◽  
Keizo Furuke ◽  
Eda T. Bloom ◽  
Julie Teruya-Feldstein ◽  
...  

Abstract Interleukin-12 (IL-12) inhibits angiogenesis in vivo by inducing interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and other downstream mediators. Here, we report that neutralization of natural killer (NK) cell function with antibodies to either asialo GM1 or NK 1.1 reversed IL-12 inhibition of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced angiogenesis in athymic mice. By immunohistochemistry, those sites where bFGF-induced neovascularization was inhibited by IL-12 displayed accumulation of NK cells and the presence of IP-10–positive cells. Based on expression of the cytolytic mediators perforin and granzyme B, the NK cells were locally activated. Experimental Burkitt lymphomas treated locally with IL-12 displayed tumor tissue necrosis, vascular damage, and NK-cell infiltration surrounding small vessels. After activation in vitro with IL-12, NK cells from nude mice became strongly cytotoxic for primary cultures of syngeneic aortic endothelial cells. Cytotoxicity was neutralized by antibodies to IFN-γ. These results document that NK cells are required mediators of angiogenesis inhibition by IL-12, and provide evidence that NK-cell cytotoxicity of endothelial cells is a potential mechanism by which IL-12 can suppress neovascularization.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (7) ◽  
pp. 2252-2258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Walzer ◽  
Marc Dalod ◽  
Scott H. Robbins ◽  
Laurence Zitvogel ◽  
Eric Vivier

AbstractSeveral recent publications have focused on the newly described interactions between natural-killer (NK) cells and dendritic cells (DCs). Activated NK cells induce DC maturation either directly or in synergy with suboptimal levels of microbial signals. Immature DCs appear susceptible to autologous NK-cell-mediated cytolysis while mature DCs are protected. NK-cell-induced DC activation is dependent on both tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)/interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secretion and a cell-cell contact involving NKp30. In vitro, interleukin-12 (IL-12)/IL-18, IL-15, and IFN-α/β production by activated DCs enhance, in turn, NK-cell IFN-γ production, proliferation, and cytotoxic potential, respectively. In vivo, NK-cell/DC interactions may occur in lymphoid organs as well as in nonlymphoid tissues, and their consequences are multiple. By inducing DC activation, NK-cell activation induced by tumor cells can indirectly promote antitumoral T-cell responses. Reciprocally, DCs activated through Toll-like receptors (TLRs) induce potent NK-cell activation in antiviral responses. Thus, DCs and NK cells are equipped with complementary sets of receptors that allow the recognition of various pathogenic agents, emphasizing the role of NK-cell/DC crosstalk in the coordination of innate and adaptive immune responses.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 340-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radu Stefanescu ◽  
Dustin Bassett ◽  
Rozbeh Modarresi ◽  
Francisco Santiago ◽  
Mohamad Fakruddin ◽  
...  

Abstract Microvascular endothelial cell (MVEC) injury coupled to progression of platelet microthrombi facilitated by ADAMTS13 deficiency is characteristic of idiopathic and HIV-linked thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Cytokines capable of inducing MVEC apoptosis in vitro are up-regulated in both TTP and HIV infection. However, the concentrations of these cytokines required to elicit EC apoptosis in vitro are 2- to 3-log–fold greater than present in patient plasmas. We report that clinically relevant levels of tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and interferon (IFN)–γ act in synergy to induce apoptosis in dermal MVECs, but have no effect on large-vessel ECs or pulmonary MVECs. This reflects the tissue distribution of TTP lesions in vivo. Sensitivity to TTP plasma or TRAIL plus IFN-γ is paralleled by enhanced ubiquitination of the caspase-8 regulator cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP), targeting it for proteasome degradation. c-FLIP silencing with anti-FLIP short interfering RNA (siRNA) in pulmonary MVECs rendered them susceptible to TTP plasma– and cytokine-mediated apoptosis, while up-regulation of c-FLIP by gene transfer partially protected dermal MVECs from such injury. TTP plasma–mediated apoptosis appears to involve cytokine-induced acceleration of c-FLIP degradation, sensitizing cells to TRAIL-mediated caspase-8 activation and cell death. Suppression of TRAIL or modulation of immunoproteasome activity may have therapeutic relevance in TTP.


1993 ◽  
Vol 292 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
R D Kalraiya ◽  
A Sanjay ◽  
N G Mehta

As a model for the development of paraneoplastic syndromes, we have studied the mechanism by which erythrocytes in the circulation of rats bearing intraperitoneal Yoshida ascites sarcoma acquire higher agglutinability with concanavalin A (Con A). The in vitro incubation of erythrocytes from normal animals with the cell-free ascites fluid or the plasma of tumour-bearing animals is able to confer an enhanced agglutinability on the cells. Fractionation of the ascites fluid has yielded three subfractions that are active in vitro. Two of these, occurring in small amounts, are a particulate fraction rich in plasma-membrane markers and a soluble fraction containing protein of molecular mass equal to or less than 50 kDa. These two are, however, unable to affect the agglutinability of erythrocytes in vivo, i.e. when injected intraperitoneally into normal rats. The third, and major, fraction consists of proteins of molecular mass equal to or greater than 680 kDa, and is able to modify the erythrocyte agglutinability in vivo. From this fraction, by using a combination of Con A affinity chromatography, gel filtration, (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and DEAE-Sephadex chromatography, an active protein has been purified to apparent homogeneity. It yields a subunit of 310 kDa in the presence of SDS and further breaks down into a polypeptide of 170 kDa when reduced with 2-mercaptoethanol. It has a pI of 5.35. The protein is rich in Glx, and appears to contain hybrid-type N-linked oligosaccharides. The protein is also present in the blood plasma of tumour-bearing, but not normal, rats. The radioiodinated protein binds to the erythrocyte surface adding about 7400 molecules/cell. The study unequivocally demonstrates that a protein from the tumour fluid can appear in the circulation, interact with host cells that are not in contact with the tumour and modify their properties.


2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (2) ◽  
pp. G535-G545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutao Yan ◽  
Guillaume Dalmasso ◽  
Shanthi Sitaraman ◽  
Didier Merlin

Growing evidence that epithelial CD98 plays an important role in intestinal inflammation focused our interest to investigate the transcriptional regulation of CD98. Our mouse-based in vivo and in vitro experiments revealed that epithelial colonic CD98 mRNA expression was transcriptionally increased in intestinal inflammation. We then isolated and characterized a 5′-flanking fragment containing the promoter region required for CD98 gene transcription. Primer extension and rapid amplification of 5′-cDNA ends were used to map a transcriptional initiation site 129 bp upstream from the translational start codon (ATG). Direct sequencing of the 5′-flanking region revealed the presence of four GC-rich stimulating protein (Sp)1 binding domains, one NF-κB binding domain, and no TATA box. Binding of Sp1 [Sp1(−874), SP1(−386), Sp1(−187), and Sp1(−177)] and NF-κB [NF-κB(−213)] to the promoter was confirmed by EMSA and supershift assays. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments showed the in vivo DNA-Sp1 and DNA-NF-κB interactions under basal and IFN-γ-stimulated conditions. Reporter genes driven by serially truncated and site-mutated CD98 promoters were used to examine basal and IFN-γ-responsive transcription in transiently transfected Caco2-BBE cells. Our results revealed that Sp1(−187), Sp1(−177), and the NF-κB binding site were essential for basal and IFN-γ-stimulated CD98 promoter activities, whereas Sp1(−874) and Sp1(−386) were not. The results from additional site-mutated CD98 promoters suggested that Sp1(−187), Sp1(−177), and the NF-κB site may cooperate in mediating basal and IFN-γ-stimulated CD98 promoter activities. Finally, we demonstrated that a reduction of Sp1 or NF-κB expression reduced CD98 protein expression in unstimulated and IFN-γ-stimulated Caco2-BBE cells. Collectively, these findings indicate that the Sp1 and NF-κB transcription factors are likely to play a significant role in IFN-γ-mediated transcriptional regulation of CD98 in the intestinal epithelium, providing new insights into the regulation of CD98 expression in intestinal inflammation.


2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 1936-1948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen L. Elkins ◽  
Allison Cooper ◽  
Susan M. Colombini ◽  
Siobhán C. Cowley ◽  
Tara L. Kieffer

ABSTRACT To determine the role of interleukin-12 (IL-12) in primary and secondary immunity to a model intracellular bacterium, we have comprehensively evaluated infection with Francisella tularensis LVS in three murine models of IL-12 deficiency. Mice lacking the p40 protein of IL-12 (p40 knockout [KO] mice) and mice treated in vivo with neutralizing anti-IL-12 antibodies survived large doses of primary and secondary LVS infection but never cleared bacteria and exhibited a chronic infection. In dramatic contrast, mice lacking the p35 protein (p35 KO mice) of heterodimeric IL-12 readily survived large doses of primary sublethal LVS infection as well as maximal secondary lethal challenge, with only a slight delay in clearance of bacteria. LVS-immune wild-type (WT) lymphocytes produced large amounts of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), but p35 KO and p40 KO lymphocytes produced much less; nonetheless, similar amounts of NO were found in all cultures containing immune lymphocytes, and all immune lymphocytes were equally capable of controlling intracellular growth of LVS in vitro. Purified CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from both WT and p40 KO mice controlled intracellular growth, even though T cells from WT mice produced much more IFN-γ than those from p40 KO mice, and p40 KO T cells did not adopt a Th2 phenotype. Thus, while IL-12 p70 stimulation of IFN-γ production may be important for bacteriostasis, IL-12 p70 is not necessary for appropriate development of LVS-immune T cells that are capable of controlling intracellular bacterial growth and for clearance of primary or secondary LVS infection. Instead, an additional mechanism dependent on the IL-12 p40 protein, either alone or in another complex such as the newly discovered heterodimer IL-23, appears to be responsible for actual clearance of this intracellular bacterium.


2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (04) ◽  
pp. 921-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinjin Feng ◽  
Yingchun Wu ◽  
Yang Yang ◽  
Weiqi Jiang ◽  
Shaoping Hu ◽  
...  

Humulus scandens, rich in flavonoids, is a traditional Chinese medicine. It is widely used in China to treat tuberculosis, dysentery and chronic colitis. In this study, the major active faction of Humulus scandens (H.S) was prepared. Then, its immunosuppressive effects and underlying mechanisms on T cell activation were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that H.S significantly inhibited the proliferation of splenocytes induced by concanavalin A, lipopolysaccharides, and mixed-lymphocyte reaction in vitro. Additionally, H.S could dramatically suppress the proliferation and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production from T cells stimulated by anti-CD3 and anti-CD28. Flow cytometric results confirmed that H.S could suppress the differentiation of IFN-γ-producing type 1 helper T cells (Th1). Furthermore, using ovalbumin immunization-induced T cell reaction and CD4+ T-cell-mediated delayed type hypersensitivity reaction, H.S the immunosuppressive effects of H.S was also demonstrated in vivo. Western blot results showed that H.S could impede the activation of both Erk1/2 and P38 in primary T cells triggered by anti-CD3/28. Collectively, the active fraction of H.S showed promising immunosuppressive activities both in vitro and in vivo.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuhao Chen ◽  
Meng Du ◽  
Zhen Yuan ◽  
Fei Yan ◽  
Zhiyi Chen

Abstract Bacteria-based tumor therapy has recently attracted wide attentions due to its unique capability in targeting tumors and preferentially colonizing the core area of the tumor. Various therapeutic genes were also harbored into these engineering bacteria to enhance their anti-tumor efficacy. However, it is difficult to spatiotemporally control the expression of these inserted genes in the tumor site. Here, we engineered an ultrasound-responsive bacterium (URB) which can induce the expression of exogenous genes in an ultrasound-controllable manner. Owing to the advantage of ultrasound in the tissue penetration, energy focusing into heating, an acoustic remote control of bacterial gene expression can be realized by designing a temperature-actuated genetic switch. Cytokine interferon-γ (IFN-γ), an important immune regulatory molecule that plays a significant role in tumor immunotherapy, was used to test the system. Our results showed a brief hyperthermia by focused ultrasound successfully induced the expression of IFN-γ gene, significantly improving anti-tumor efficacy of URB in vitro and in vivo. Our study provided a novel strategy for bacteria-mediated tumor immunotherapy.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 928-928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rossana Trotta ◽  
Jessica Dal Col ◽  
Jeffrey Allard ◽  
Paolo Neviani ◽  
Ramasamy Santhanam ◽  
...  

Abstract Monokines (i.e. IL-12, IL-18 and IL-15) induce natural killer (NK) cells to produce interferon-γ (IFN-γ), which is critical for monocyte clearance of infectious pathogens and tumor surveillance. To identify new regulators of IFN-γ production we performed oligonucleotide array analysis of unstimulated and IL-12- and IL-18-stimulated NK92 cells. Among the subset of mRNAs differentially regulated in monokine-stimulated cells, we found SET, a potent inhibitor of the protein phosphatase type 2A (PP2A). SET mRNA and/or protein levels were upregulated in IL-12/IL-18- and IL-12/IL-15-stimulated primary human NK cells. Interestingly, the SET protein is also selectively increased in the resting CD56bright NK subset, which is a potent producer of IFN-γ relative to the CD56dim NK subset. To determine whether SET positively regulates IFN-γ production by inhibiting PP2A activity, we employed RNAi and interfered with SET expression in NK92 cells. SET downregulation inhibited IFN-γ secretion by IL-12/IL-18, IL-12/IL-15- or IL-15/IL-18-stimulated NK92 cells. By contrast, ectopic SET expression increased IFN-γ production in monokine-stimulated NK92 and primary human NK cells. Because downregulation of SET augmented PP2A activity in NK92 cells, we sought to investigate whether pharmacologic activation of PP2A inhibits the ability of NK cells to produce IFN-γ. Indeed, suppression of IFN-γ expression and secretion was also observed upon treatment of NK92 and primary NK cells with 1,9-dideoxy-forskolin, a known inducer of PP2A activity. Accordingly, NK cells from mice treated with 1.9-dideoxy-forskolin produced less IFN-γ in response to in vivo monokine stimulation than did NK cells from vehicle-treated mice. Mechanistically, activation of PP2A by SET knock-down or 1,9-dideoxy-forskolin treatment leads to inhibition of ERK1/2, p65RelA and STAT5 activity in monokine-stimulated NK cells. Because these signaling molecules are important for IFN-γ production by monokine-stimulated NK cells, our results strongly suggest that monokine induction of SET expression in NK cells is essential for limiting PP2A activity that, otherwise, would negatively impact the ability of NK cells to produce and release optimal levels of IFN-γ.


Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 1717-1726
Author(s):  
Miriam Wittmann ◽  
Vivi-Ann Larsson ◽  
Petra Schmidt ◽  
Gabriele Begemann ◽  
Alexander Kapp ◽  
...  

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a potent proinflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokine skewing T lymphocytes to express a type 1 cytokine pattern. Optimal expression of IL-12 mRNA and bioactivity in vitro requires specific priming of monocytes by interferon-γ (IFN-γ) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) before lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. We show here for the first time that the production of IL-12 by IFN-γ– or GM-CSF–primed human monocytes can be completely suppressed by preincubation with LPS (fromEscherichia coli Serotype 055:B5) for 6 to 24 hours before the priming procedure. A dose-dependent suppression of IL-12p70 was measured on the levels of intracellular cytokine production and cytokine secretion. mRNA studies on the expression of p40 and p35 showed an LPS-induced downregulation of both subunits. The results of several different experimental approaches suggest that IL-12 downregulation was not due to endogenous IL-10, IL-4, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-), or nitric oxide (NO) production induced by LPS. Moreover, preincubation of monocytes with LPS did not lead to a downregulation of the CD14 antigen, which is an LPS receptor. LPS preincubation in this experimental setting did not result in a general hyporesponsiveness of the monocytes, as IL-6 production as well as IFN-γ–induced upregulation of CD54 did not decline. Downregulation of IL-12 was not due to changes in mRNA stability. These findings show that the immunoregulatory important cytokine, IL-12, underlies itself a complex regulation.


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