scholarly journals Metabolic Syndrome and Viral Pathogenesis: Lessons from Influenza and Coronaviruses

2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Smith ◽  
Rebekah Honce ◽  
Stacey Schultz-Cherry

ABSTRACT Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of severe disease due to viral infection. Yet few studies have assessed the pathogenesis of respiratory viruses in high-risk populations. Here, we summarize how metabolic dysregulation impairs immune responses, and we define the role of metabolism during influenza virus and coronavirus infections. We also discuss the use of various in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo models to elucidate the contributions of host factors to viral susceptibility, immunity, and disease severity.

2012 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Serafini ◽  
Giuseppa Morabito

Dietary polyphenols have been shown to scavenge free radicals, modulating cellular redox transcription factors in different in vitro and ex vivo models. Dietary intervention studies have shown that consumption of plant foods modulates plasma Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant Capacity (NEAC), a biomarker of the endogenous antioxidant network, in human subjects. However, the identification of the molecules responsible for this effect are yet to be obtained and evidences of an antioxidant in vivo action of polyphenols are conflicting. There is a clear discrepancy between polyphenols (PP) concentration in body fluids and the extent of increase of plasma NEAC. The low degree of absorption and the extensive metabolism of PP within the body have raised questions about their contribution to the endogenous antioxidant network. This work will discuss the role of polyphenols from galenic preparation, food extracts, and selected dietary sources as modulators of plasma NEAC in humans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Fischer ◽  
Meshal Ansari ◽  
Karolin I. Wagner ◽  
Sebastian Jarosch ◽  
Yiqi Huang ◽  
...  

AbstractThe in vivo phenotypic profile of T cells reactive to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 antigens remains poorly understood. Conventional methods to detect antigen-reactive T cells require in vitro antigenic re-stimulation or highly individualized peptide-human leukocyte antigen (pHLA) multimers. Here, we use single-cell RNA sequencing to identify and profile SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. To do so, we induce transcriptional shifts by antigenic stimulation in vitro and take advantage of natural T cell receptor (TCR) sequences of clonally expanded T cells as barcodes for ‘reverse phenotyping’. This allows identification of SARS-CoV-2-reactive TCRs and reveals phenotypic effects introduced by antigen-specific stimulation. We characterize transcriptional signatures of currently and previously activated SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells, and show correspondence with phenotypes of T cells from the respiratory tract of patients with severe disease in the presence or absence of virus in independent cohorts. Reverse phenotyping is a powerful tool to provide an integrated insight into cellular states of SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells across tissues and activation states.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (110) ◽  
pp. 20150589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria C. Z. Meneghetti ◽  
Ashley J. Hughes ◽  
Timothy R. Rudd ◽  
Helena B. Nader ◽  
Andrew K. Powell ◽  
...  

Heparan sulfate (HS) polysaccharides are ubiquitous components of the cell surface and extracellular matrix of all multicellular animals, whereas heparin is present within mast cells and can be viewed as a more sulfated, tissue-specific, HS variant. HS and heparin regulate biological processes through interactions with a large repertoire of proteins. Owing to these interactions and diverse effects observed during in vitro , ex vivo and in vivo experiments, manifold biological/pharmacological activities have been attributed to them. The properties that have been thought to bestow protein binding and biological activity upon HS and heparin vary from high levels of sequence specificity to a dependence on charge. In contrast to these opposing opinions, we will argue that the evidence supports both a level of redundancy and a degree of selectivity in the structure–activity relationship. The relationship between this apparent redundancy, the multi-dentate nature of heparin and HS polysaccharide chains, their involvement in protein networks and the multiple binding sites on proteins, each possessing different properties, will also be considered. Finally, the role of cations in modulating HS/heparin activity will be reviewed and some of the implications for structure–activity relationships and regulation will be discussed.


2012 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 1950-1959 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Ellman ◽  
Jae-Sung Kim ◽  
Howard S. An ◽  
Jeffrey S. Kroin ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 109 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen M Andres ◽  
Chengqun Huang ◽  
Eric P Ratliff ◽  
Genaro Hernandez ◽  
Pamela Lee ◽  
...  

Autophagy-dependent mitochondrial turnover in response to cellular stress is necessary for maintaining cellular homeostasis. However, the mechanisms that govern the selective targeting of damaged mitochondria are poorly understood. Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, has been shown to be essential for the selective clearance of damaged mitochondria. Parkin is expressed in the heart, yet its function has not been investigated in the context of cardioprotection. We previously reported that autophagy is required for cardioprotection by ischemic preconditioning (IPC). In the present study, we used simulated ischemia in vitro and IPC in hearts (in vivo and ex vivo) to investigate the role of Parkin in mediating cardioprotection. In HL-1 cells, simulated ischemia induced Parkin translocation to mitochondria and mitochondrial elimination. Mitochondrial loss was blunted in Atg5-deficient cells, revealing the requirement for autophagy in mitochondrial elimination. Consistent with previous reports implicating p62/SQSTM1 in mitophagy, we found that downregulation of p62 attenuated mitophagy and exacerbated cell death in HL-1 cardiomyocytes subjected to simulated ischemia. While wild type mice showed p62 translocation to mitochondria after IPC, Parkin knockout mice exhibited attenuated translocation of p62 to mitochondria. Importantly, ablation of Parkin in mice abolished the cardioprotective effects of IPC. These results reveal for the first time the crucial role of Parkin and mitophagy in cardioprotection.


Author(s):  
Mihir K Patel ◽  
Kiranj K. Chaudagar ◽  
Anita A. Mehta

Objective: Although recent advances in the treatment of congestive heart disease, mortality among patients’ remains a questionable remark. Therefore, we evaluated the role of capsaicin on in vitro and ex vivo platelet aggregation induced by Adenosine Di-Phosphate (ADP) as well as in in vivo thrombosis models and role of NO, KATP was also identified in the capsaicin-induced anti-platelet animal model as well as in vivo model of arterial thrombosis.Methods: According to body weight wistar rats were divided into five groups. Group I and Group II was treated with saline and capsaicin (3 mg/kg, i. v), while animals from Group III were treated with N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (30 mg/kg, i. v) 30 min before administration of capsaicin (3 mg/kg, i. v). Group IV animals were treated with glibenclamide (10 mg/kg,i. v) 30 min before administration of capsaicin (3 mg/kg, i. v). Group V was considered as a positive control and administered clopidogrel (30 mg/kg, p. o). Animals were subjected for in vitro, ex-vivo platelet aggregation assay. ADP (30µM) was utilized as an aggregating agent in these experiments. After these assays; animals of each group were subjected for subaqueous tail bleeding time in a rat model and FeCl3-induced arterial thrombosis model in rats.Results: In ADP-induced in vitro platelet aggregation, a significant reduction in % platelet aggregation was observed at 50µM (64.35±4.641) and 100µM (52.72±4.192) concentration of capsaicin as compared to vehicle control (85.82±3.716). Capsaicin (3 mg/kg, i. v) also showed a significant reduction (49.53±4.075) in ex-vivo ADP-induced platelet aggregation as compared to vehicle control (89.38±2.057). In FeCl3 induced arterial thrombosis model, Capsaicin (3 mg/kg, i. v) exhibited an increase in time to occlusion in this rodent model and presence of the L-NAME and glibenclamide had inhibited the activity of capsaicin.Conclusion: In our study, capsaicin (50 µM, 100µM) exhibited potent anti-platelet activity in ADP-induced platelet aggregation, similarly capsaicin exhibited significant anti-platelet action in the ex-vivo study. Moreover, the presence of L-NAME and glibenclamide inhibited the anti-thrombotic and anti-platelet action of capsaicin. Therefore, it was concluded that NO and KATP may be involved in the anti-thrombotic action of capsaicin.


2012 ◽  
Vol 123 (11) ◽  
pp. 635-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radko Komers ◽  
Shaunessy Rogers ◽  
Terry T. Oyama ◽  
Bei Xu ◽  
Chao-Ling Yang ◽  
...  

In the present study, we investigated the activity of the thiazide-sensitive NCC (Na+–Cl− co-transporter) in experimental metabolic syndrome and the role of insulin in NCC activation. Renal responses to the NCC inhibitor HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide), as a measure of NCC activity in vivo, were studied in 12-week-old ZO (Zucker obese) rats, a model of the metabolic syndrome, and in ZL (Zucker lean) control animals, together with renal NCC expression and molecular markers of NCC activity, such as localization and phosphorylation. Effects of insulin were studied further in mammalian cell lines with inducible and endogenous expression of this molecule. ZO rats displayed marked hyperinsulinaemia, but no differences in plasma aldosterone, compared with ZL rats. In ZO rats, natriuretic and diuretic responses to NCC inhibition with HCTZ were enhanced compared with ZL rats, and were associated with a decrease in BP (blood pressure). ZO rats displayed enhanced Thr53 NCC phosphorylation and predominant membrane localization of both total and phosphorylated NCC, together with a different profile in expression of SPAK (Ste20-related proline/alanine-rich kinase) isoforms, and lower expression of WNK4. In vitro, insulin induced NCC phosphorylation, which was blocked by a PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) inhibitor. Insulin-induced reduction in WNK4 expression was also observed, but delayed compared with the time course of NCC phosphorylation. In summary, we report increased NCC activity in hyperinsulinaemic rodents in conjunction with the SPAK expression profile consistent with NCC activation and reduced WNK4, as well as an ability of insulin to induce NCC stimulatory phosphorylation in vitro. Together, these findings indicate that hyperinsulinaemia is an important driving force of NCC activity in the metabolic syndrome with possible consequences for BP regulation.


2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (7) ◽  
pp. 3817-3824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen L. Wozniak ◽  
Jatin M. Vyas ◽  
Stuart M. Levitz

ABSTRACT Dendritic cells (DC) have been shown to phagocytose and kill Cryptococcus neoformans in vitro and are believed to be important for inducing protective immunity against this organism. Exposure to C. neoformans occurs mainly by inhalation, and in this study we examined the in vivo interactions of C. neoformans with DC in the lung. Fluorescently labeled live C. neoformans and heat-killed C. neoformans were administered intranasally to C57BL/6 mice. At specific times postinoculation, mice were sacrificed, and lungs were removed. Single-cell suspensions of lung cells were prepared, stained, and analyzed by microscopy and flow cytometry. Within 2 h postinoculation, fluorescently labeled C. neoformans had been internalized by DC, macrophages, and neutrophils in the mouse lung. Additionally, lung DC from mice infected for 7 days showed increased expression of the maturation markers CD80, CD86, and major histocompatibility complex class II. Finally, ex vivo incubation of lung DC from infected mice with Cryptococcus-specific T cells resulted in increased interleukin-2 production compared to the production by DC from naïve mice, suggesting that there was antigen-specific T-cell activation. This study demonstrated that DC in the lung are capable of phagocytosing Cryptococcus in vivo and presenting antigen to C. neoformans-specific T cells ex vivo, suggesting that these cells have roles in innate and adaptive pulmonary defenses against cryptococcosis.


2013 ◽  
Vol 305 (11) ◽  
pp. L844-L855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Yuan Jian ◽  
Mikhail F. Alexeyev ◽  
Paul E. Wolkowicz ◽  
Jaroslaw W. Zmijewski ◽  
Judy R. Creighton

Acute lung injury secondary to sepsis is a leading cause of mortality in sepsis-related death. Present therapies are not effective in reversing endothelial cell dysfunction, which plays a key role in increased vascular permeability and compromised lung function. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a molecular sensor important for detection and mediation of cellular adaptations to vascular disruptive stimuli. In this study, we sought to determine the role of AMPK in resolving increased endothelial permeability in the sepsis-injured lung. AMPK function was determined in vivo using a rat model of endotoxin-induced lung injury, ex vivo using the isolated lung, and in vitro using cultured rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs). AMPK stimulation using N1-(α-d-ribofuranosyl)-5-aminoimidizole-4-carboxamide or metformin decreased the LPS-induced increase in permeability, as determined by filtration coefficient ( Kf) measurements, and resolved edema as indicated by decreased wet-to-dry ratios. The role of AMPK in the endothelial response to LPS was determined by shRNA designed to decrease expression of the AMPK-α1 isoform in capillary endothelial cells. Permeability, wounding, and barrier resistance assays using PMVECs identified AMPK-α1 as the molecule responsible for the beneficial effects of AMPK in the lung. Our findings provide novel evidence for AMPK-α1 as a vascular repair mechanism important in the pulmonary response to sepsis and identify a role for metformin treatment in the management of capillary injury.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 2450
Author(s):  
Lucy Urwin ◽  
Katarzyna Okurowska ◽  
Grace Crowther ◽  
Sanhita Roy ◽  
Prashant Garg ◽  
...  

Bacterial keratitis is a corneal infection which may cause visual impairment or even loss of the infected eye. It remains a major cause of blindness in the developing world. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are common causative agents and these bacterial species are known to colonise the corneal surface as biofilm populations. Biofilms are complex bacterial communities encased in an extracellular polymeric matrix and are notoriously difficult to eradicate once established. Biofilm bacteria exhibit different phenotypic characteristics from their planktonic counterparts, including an increased resistance to antibiotics and the host immune response. Therefore, understanding the role of biofilms will be essential in the development of new ophthalmic antimicrobials. A brief overview of biofilm-specific resistance mechanisms is provided, but this is a highly multifactorial and rapidly expanding field that warrants further research. Progression in this field is dependent on the development of suitable biofilm models that acknowledge the complexity of the ocular environment. Abiotic models of biofilm formation (where biofilms are studied on non-living surfaces) currently dominate the literature, but co-culture infection models are beginning to emerge. In vitro, ex vivo and in vivo corneal infection models have now been reported which use a variety of different experimental techniques and animal models. In this review, we will discuss existing corneal infection models and their application in the study of biofilms and host-pathogen interactions at the corneal surface.


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