scholarly journals Expressing a truncated SARS-COV-2 spike protein in mouse heart induces cardiac hypertrophy

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Negron ◽  
C Kessinger ◽  
Z Lin
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Systolic Function ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Cardiac Injury ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Mouse Heart ◽  
Innate Immune Responses

Abstract   Cardiac injury is common in hospitalized and non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients, for which systemic inflammation stress is one of the causes (Topol, 2020). Although rare, COVID-19 cases that SARS-CoV-2 infecting cardiomyocytes (CMs) have been reported. In vitro, SARS-CoV-2 infection of human induced-pluripotent-cells derived CMs triggered innate immune responses and induced apoptosis (Bojkova et al., 2020; Chen et al., 2020). Therefore, the current literature indicates that the heart is attacked by SARS-CoV-2 directly or indirectly; however, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Involved in the pathogenesis of heart diseases, Toll-like receptors (TLR) are a family of pattern recognition receptors that sense the pathogenic stimuli and signal the cardiac residential cells to cope with harsh conditions (Yu and Feng, 2018). Among the best characterized TLR signaling pathways is TLR4/NF-kB axis (Lu et al., 2008), in which TLR4 convey the danger signals through its down stream kinases, such as TAK1 and TBK1, to activate NF-kB. SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein is well known for its role of mediating virus entry into host cells, but its immunogenic role has not been clearly defined. Recently, we have found that SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein directly interacts with TLR4 and activates NF-kB transcriptional activity. Pharmaceutically blocking either TBK1 or TAK1 attenuates Spike protein's immunogenic activity. To pinpoint Spike protein's role in the heart, we generated an AAV to specifically express a truncated Spike protein (S1-TM) in the CMs. Our data show that expressing S1-TM in CMs induces cardiac hypertrophy and decreases heart systolic function in mice. On the molecular level, Spike protein increases RelA (p65 subunit of the NF-kB complex) and activates the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes. In summary, our study suggests that Spike protein directly interacts with TLR4 to trigger innate immune signaling, and that Spike protein induced CM innate immune responses might be one of the underlying mechanisms of cardiac injury in COVID-19. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): Masonic Medical Research Institute

scholarly journals Selectively expressing SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein S1 subunit in cardiomyocytes induces cardiac hypertrophy in mice.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven G. Negron ◽  
Chase W. Kessinger ◽  
Bing Xu ◽  
William T. Pu ◽  
Zhiqiang Lin
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Cardiac Injury ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Toll Like Receptor 4 ◽  
Cardiac Inflammation ◽  
Leucine Rich Repeats ◽  
Recognition Receptor

Cardiac injury is common in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and portends poorer prognosis and higher mortality. To better understand how SARS-CoV-2 (CoV-2) damages the heart, it is critical to elucidate the biology of CoV-2 encoded proteins, each of which may play multiple pathological roles. For example, CoV-2 Spike glycoprotein (CoV-2-S) not only engages ACE2 to mediate virus infection, but also directly impairs endothelial function and can trigger innate immune responses in cultured murine macrophages. Here we tested the hypothesis that CoV-2-S damages the heart by activating cardiomyocyte (CM) innate immune responses. HCoV-NL63 is another human coronavirus with a Spike protein (NL63-S) that also engages ACE2 for virus entry but is known to only cause moderate respiratory symptoms. We found that CoV-2-S and not NL63-S interacted with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a crucial pattern recognition receptor that responsible for detecting pathogen and initiating innate immune responses. Our data show that the S1 subunit of CoV-2-S (CoV-2-S1) interacts with the extracellular leucine rich repeats-containing domain of TLR4 and activates NF-kB. To investigate the possible pathological role of CoV-2-S1 in the heart, we generated a construct that expresses membrane-localized CoV-2-S1 (S1-TM). AAV9-mediated, selective expression of the S1-TM in CMs caused heart dysfunction, induced hypertrophic remodeling, and elicited cardiac inflammation. Since CoV-2-S does not interact with murine ACE2, our study presents a novel ACE2-independent pathological role of CoV-2-S, and suggests that the circulating CoV-2-S1 is a TLR4-recognizable alarmin that may harm the CMs by triggering their innate immune responses.

scholarly journals Mycobacterium tuberculosisinhibits human innate immune responses via the production of TLR2 antagonist glycolipids

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (42) ◽  
pp. 11205-11210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Landry Blanc ◽  
Martine Gilleron ◽  
Jacques Prandi ◽  
Ok-ryul Song ◽  
Mi-Seon Jang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cytokine Production ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Costimulatory Molecule ◽  
Immune Defense ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Reporter System

Mycobacterium tuberculosisis a major human pathogen that is able to survive inside host cells and resist immune clearance. Most particularly, it inhibits several arms of the innate immune response, including phagosome maturation or cytokine production. To better understand the molecular mechanisms by whichM. tuberculosiscircumvents host immune defenses, we used a transposon mutant library generated in a virulent clinical isolate ofM. tuberculosisof the W/Beijing family to infect human macrophages, utilizing a cell line derivative of THP-1 cells expressing a reporter system for activation of the transcription factor NF-κB, a key regulator of innate immunity. We identified severalM. tuberculosismutants inducing a NF-κB activation stronger than that of the wild-type strain. One of these mutants was found to be deficient for the synthesis of cell envelope glycolipids, namely sulfoglycolipids, suggesting that the latter can interfere with innate immune responses. Using natural and synthetic molecular variants, we determined that sulfoglycolipids inhibit NF-κB activation and subsequent cytokine production or costimulatory molecule expression by acting as competitive antagonists of Toll-like receptor 2, thereby inhibiting the recognition ofM. tuberculosisby this receptor. Our study reveals that producing glycolipid antagonists of pattern recognition receptors is a strategy used byM. tuberculosisto undermine innate immune defense. Sulfoglycolipids are major and specific lipids ofM. tuberculosis, considered for decades as virulence factors of the bacilli. Our study uncovers a mechanism by which they may contribute toM. tuberculosisvirulence.

scholarly journals Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Prevents Host NF-κB Activation by Targeting IκBα Polyubiquitination

2012 ◽  
Vol 80 (12) ◽  
pp. 4417-4425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaogang Wang ◽  
Philip R. Hardwidge
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Diarrheal Disease ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli ◽  
Host Responses ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Heat Stable

ABSTRACTThe NF-κB pathway regulates innate immune responses to infection. NF-κB is activated after pathogen-associated molecular patterns are detected, leading to the induction of proinflammatory host responses. As a countermeasure, bacterial pathogens have evolved mechanisms to subvert NF-κB signaling. EnterotoxigenicEscherichia coli(ETEC) causes diarrheal disease and significant morbidity and mortality for humans in developing nations. The extent to which this important pathogen subverts innate immune responses by directly targeting the NF-κB pathway is an understudied topic. Here we report that ETEC secretes a heat-stable, proteinaceous factor that blocks NF-κB signaling normally induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1β, and flagellin. Pretreating intestinal epithelial cells with ETEC supernatant significantly blocked the degradation of the NF-κB inhibitor IκBα without affecting IκBα phosphorylation. Data from immunoprecipitation experiments suggest that the ETEC factor functions by preventing IκBα polyubiquitination. Inhibiting clathrin function blocked the activity of the secreted ETEC factor, suggesting that this yet-uncharacterized activity may utilize clathrin-dependent endocytosis to enter host cells. These data suggest that ETEC evades the host innate immune response by directly modulating NF-κB signaling.

scholarly journals The Solute Carrier Transporter SLC15A3 Participates in Antiviral Innate Immune Responses against Herpes Simplex Virus-1

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Longzhen He ◽  
Baocheng Wang ◽  
Yuanyuan Li ◽  
Leqing Zhu ◽  
Peiling Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herpes Simplex Virus ◽  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Type I ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Hsv 1

The innate immune response is the first line defense against viral infections. Novel genes involved in this system are continuing to emerge. SLC15A3, a proton-coupled histidine and di-tripeptide transporter that was previously found in lysosomes, has been reported to inhibit chikungunya viral replication in host cells. In this study, we found that SLC15A3 was significantly induced by DNA virus herpes simplex virus-1(HSV-1) in monocytes from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Aside from monocytes, it can also be induced by HSV-1 in 293T, HeLa cells, and HaCaT cells. Overexpression of SLC15A3 in 293T cells inhibits HSV-1 replication and enhances type I and type III interferon (IFN) responses, while silencing SLC15A3 leads to enhanced HSV-1 replication with reduced IFN production. Moreover, we found that SLC15A3 interacted with MAVS and STING and potentiated MAVS- and STING-mediated IFN production. These results demonstrate that SLC15A3 participates in anti-HSV-1 innate immune responses by regulating MAVS- and STING-mediated signaling pathways.

scholarly journals Targeted Mitochondrial Therapy With Over-Expressed MAVS Protein From Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A New Therapeutic Approach for COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amirhesam Babajani ◽  
Pooya Hosseini-Monfared ◽  
Samin Abbaspour ◽  
Elham Jamshidi ◽  
Hassan Niknejad
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Immune Response ◽  
Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Pulmonary Involvement ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Mitochondrial Antiviral Signaling ◽  
And Control

The SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has infected millions of people worldwide. The symptoms of this disease are primarily due to pulmonary involvement, uncontrolled tissue inflammation, and inadequate immune response against the invader virus. Impaired interferon (IFN) production is one of the leading causes of the immune system’s inability to control the replication of the SARS-CoV-2. Mitochondria play an essential role in developing and maintaining innate cellular immunity and IFN production. Mitochondrial function is impaired during cellular stress, affecting cell bioenergy and innate immune responses. The mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS), located in the outer membrane of mitochondria, is one of the key elements in engaging the innate immune system and interferon production. Transferring healthy mitochondria to the damaged cells by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a proposed option for regenerative medicine and a viable treatment approach to many diseases. In addition to mitochondrial transport, these cells can regulate inflammation, repair the damaged tissue, and control the pathogenesis of COVID-19. The immune regulatory nature of MSCs dramatically reduces the probability of an immune rejection. In order to induce an appropriate immune response against the SARS-CoV-2, we hypothesize to donate mitochondria to the host cells of the virus. We consider MSCs as an appropriate biological carrier for mitochondria. Besides, enhancing the expression of MAVS protein in MSCs and promoting the expression of SARS-CoV-2 viral spike protein as a specific ligand for ACE2+ cells will improve IFN production and innate immune responses in a targeted manner.

Modeling and analysis of innate immune responses induced by the host cells against hepatitis C virus infection

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 544-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayesha Obaid ◽  
Jamil Ahmad ◽  
Anam Naz ◽  
Faryal Mehwish Awan ◽  
Rehan Zafar Paracha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus Infection ◽  
Modeling And Analysis

scholarly journals Autophagy and Mitochondrial Homeostasis During Infection: A Double-Edged Sword

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sutian Wang ◽  
Kunli Zhang ◽  
Yuchang Yao ◽  
Jianhao Li
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Energy Exchange ◽  
Biological Process ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Mitochondrial Homeostasis ◽  
Mitochondrial Functions ◽  
Cellular Components

Autophagy, an essential biological process that affects immunity, is a powerful tool that host cells can use to defend against infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms. Autophagy can not only initiate innate immune responses but also degrade the cellular components that provide the conditions for removing the invaders. However, hyperactivated or inhibited autophagy leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, which is harmful to the host itself and is involved in many types of diseases. Mitochondria perform the functions of biological oxidation and energy exchange. In addition, mitochondrial functions are closely related to cell death, oxygen radical formation, and disease. Accumulation of mitochondrial metabolites affects survival of intracellular pathogens. In this mini-review, we focus on the crosstalk between autophagy and mitochondrial homeostasis during infection.

scholarly journals LPS-induced down-regulation of signal regulatory protein α contributes to innate immune activation in macrophages

2007 ◽  
Vol 204 (11) ◽  
pp. 2719-2731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Ni Kong ◽  
He-Xin Yan ◽  
Lei Chen ◽  
Li-Wei Dong ◽  
Wen Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Innate Immunity ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Immune Activation ◽  
Endotoxic Shock ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Type I ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Innate Immune Activation

Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) cascades after Toll-like receptor (TLR) stimulation contributes to innate immune responses. Signal regulatory protein (SIRP) α, a member of the SIRP family that is abundantly expressed in macrophages, has been implicated in regulating MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. In addition, SIRPα can negatively regulate the phagocytosis of host cells by macrophages, indicating an inhibitory role of SIRPα in innate immunity. We provide evidences that SIRPα is an essential endogenous regulator of the innate immune activation upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. SIRPα expression was promptly reduced in macrophages after LPS stimulation. The decrease in SIRPα expression levels was required for initiation of LPS-induced innate immune responses because overexpression of SIRPα reduced macrophage responses to LPS. Knockdown of SIRPα caused prolonged activation of MAPKs and NF-κB pathways and augmented production of proinflammatory cytokines and type I interferon (IFN). Mice transferred with SIRPα-depleted macrophages were highly susceptible to endotoxic shock, developing multiple organ failure and exhibiting a remarkable increase in mortality. SIRPα may accomplish this mainly through its association and sequestration of the LPS signal transducer SHP-2. Thus, SIRPα functions as a biologically important modulator of TLR signaling and innate immunity.

scholarly journals PPP6C Negatively Regulates STING-Dependent Innate Immune Responses

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoxin Ni ◽  
Zhe Ma ◽  
Jason P. Wong ◽  
Zhigang Zhang ◽  
Emily Cousins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Adaptor Protein ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Type I ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Pathogen Invasion ◽  
Major Player ◽  
Sting Pathway

ABSTRACT Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is an essential adaptor protein of the innate DNA-sensing signaling pathway, which recognizes genomic DNA from invading pathogens to establish antiviral responses in host cells. STING activity is tightly regulated by several posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation. However, specifically how the phosphorylation status of STING is modulated by kinases and phosphatases remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, we identified protein phosphatase 6 catalytic subunit (PPP6C) as a binding partner of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) open reading frame 48 (ORF48), which is a negative regulator of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-STING pathway. PPP6C depletion enhances double-stranded DNA (dsDNA)-induced and 5′ppp double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-induced but not poly(I:C)-induced innate immune responses. PPP6C negatively regulates dsDNA-induced IRF3 activation but not NF-κB activation. Deficiency of PPP6C greatly inhibits the replication of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) as well as the reactivation of KSHV, due to increased type I interferon production. We further demonstrated that PPP6C interacts with STING and that loss of PPP6C enhances STING phosphorylation. These data demonstrate the important role of PPP6C in regulating STING phosphorylation and activation, which provides an additional mechanism by which the host responds to viral infection. IMPORTANCE Cytosolic DNA, which usually comes from invading microbes, is a dangerous signal to the host. The cGAS-STING pathway is the major player that detects cytosolic DNA and then evokes the innate immune response. As an adaptor protein, STING plays a central role in controlling activation of the cGAS-STING pathway. Although transient activation of STING is essential to trigger the host defense during pathogen invasion, chronic STING activation has been shown to be associated with several autoinflammatory diseases. Here, we report that PPP6C negatively regulates the cGAS-STING pathway by removing STING phosphorylation, which is required for its activation. Dephosphorylation of STING by PPP6C helps prevent the sustained production of STING-dependent cytokines, which would otherwise lead to severe autoimmune disorders. This work provides additional mechanisms on the regulation of STING activity and might facilitate the development of novel therapeutics designed to prevent a variety of autoinflammatory disorders.

scholarly journals Salmonella Suppresses the TRIF-Dependent Type I Interferon Response in Macrophages

mBio ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine A. Owen ◽  
C. J. Anderson ◽  
James E. Casanova
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Intracellular Survival ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Type I ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Beta Interferon ◽  
Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
Ifn Γ

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica is an intracellular pathogen that causes diseases ranging from gastroenteritis to typhoid fever. Salmonella bacteria trigger an autophagic response in host cells upon infection but have evolved mechanisms for suppressing this response, thereby enhancing intracellular survival. We recently reported that S. enterica serovar Typhimurium actively recruits the host tyrosine kinase focal adhesion kinase (FAK) to the surface of the Salmonella -containing vacuole (SCV) (K. A. Owen et al., PLoS Pathog 10:e1004159, 2014). FAK then suppresses autophagy through activation of the Akt/mTORC1 signaling pathway. In FAK −/− macrophages, bacteria are captured in autophagosomes and intracellular survival is attenuated. Here we show that the cell-autonomous bacterial suppression of autophagy also suppresses the broader innate immune response by inhibiting production of beta interferon (IFN-β). Induction of bacterial autophagy (xenophagy), but not autophagy alone, triggers IFN-β production through a pathway involving the adapter TRIF and endosomal Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and TLR4. Selective FAK knockout in macrophages resulted in rapid bacterial clearance from mucosal tissues after oral infection. Clearance correlated with increased IFN-β production by intestinal macrophages and with IFN-β-dependent induction of IFN-γ by intestinal NK cells. Blockade of either IFN-β or IFN-γ increased host susceptibility to infection, whereas experimental induction of IFN-β was protective. Thus, bacterial suppression of autophagy not only enhances cell-autonomous survival but also suppresses more-systemic innate immune responses by limiting type I and type II interferons. IMPORTANCE Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium represents one of the most commonly identified bacterial causes of foodborne illness worldwide. S . Typhimurium has developed numerous strategies to evade detection by the host immune system. Autophagy is a cellular process that involves the recognition and degradation of defective proteins and organelles. More recently, autophagy has been described as an important means by which host cells recognize and eliminate invading intracellular pathogens and plays a key role in the production of cytokines. Previously, we determined that Salmonella bacteria are able to suppress their own autophagic capture and elimination by macrophages. Building on that study, we show here that the inhibition of autophagy by Salmonella also prevents the induction of a protective cytokine response mediated by beta interferon (IFN-β) and IFN-γ. Together, these findings identify a novel virulence strategy whereby Salmonella bacteria prevent cell autonomous elimination via autophagy and suppress the activation of innate immune responses.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document