scholarly journals Modulation of Immunity and Inflammation by the Mineralocorticoid Receptor and Aldosterone

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Muñoz-Durango ◽  
A. Vecchiola ◽  
L. M. Gonzalez-Gomez ◽  
F. Simon ◽  
C. A. Riedel ◽  
...  

The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) is a ligand dependent transcription factor. MR has been traditionally associated with the control of water and electrolyte homeostasis in order to keep blood pressure through aldosterone activation. However, there is growing evidence indicating that MR expression is not restricted to vascular and renal tissues, as it can be also expressed by cells of the immune system, where it responds to stimulation or antagonism, controlling immune cell function. On the other hand, aldosterone also has been associated with proinflammatory immune effects, such as the release of proinflammatory cytokines, generating oxidative stress and inducing fibrosis. The inflammatory participation of MR and aldosterone in the cardiovascular disease suggests an association with alterations in the immune system. Hypertensive patients show higher levels of proinflammatory mediators that can be modulated by MR antagonism. Although these proinflammatory properties have been observed in other autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that mediate these effects remain unknown. Here we review and discuss the scientific work aimed at determining the immunological role of MR and aldosterone in humans, as well as animal models.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed M. Almutairi ◽  
Farzane Sivandzade ◽  
Thamer H. Albekairi ◽  
Faleh Alqahtani ◽  
Luca Cucullo

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The clinical manifestations of COVID-19 include dry cough, difficult breathing, fever, fatigue, and may lead to pneumonia and respiratory failure. There are significant gaps in the current understanding of whether SARS-CoV-2 attacks the CNS directly or through activation of the peripheral immune system and immune cell infiltration. Although the modality of neurological impairments associated with COVID-19 has not been thoroughly investigated, the latest studies have observed that SARS-CoV-2 induces neuroinflammation and may have severe long-term consequences. Here we review the literature on possible cellular and molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 induced-neuroinflammation. Activation of the innate immune system is associated with increased cytokine levels, chemokines, and free radicals in the SARS-CoV-2-induced pathogenic response at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). BBB disruption allows immune/inflammatory cell infiltration into the CNS activating immune resident cells (such as microglia and astrocytes). This review highlights the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in COVID-19-induced neuroinflammation, which may lead to neuronal death. A better understanding of these mechanisms will help gain substantial knowledge about the potential role of SARS-CoV-2 in neurological changes and plan possible therapeutic intervention strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelien G. G. Sprenkeler ◽  
Carla Guenther ◽  
Imrul Faisal ◽  
Taco W. Kuijpers ◽  
Susanna C. Fagerholm

Megakaryoblastic leukemia 1 (MKL1) deficiency is one of the most recently discovered primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) caused by cytoskeletal abnormalities. These immunological “actinopathies” primarily affect hematopoietic cells, resulting in defects in both the innate immune system (phagocyte defects) and adaptive immune system (T-cell and B-cell defects). MKL1 is a transcriptional coactivator that operates together with serum response factor (SRF) to regulate gene transcription. The MKL/SRF pathway has been originally described to have important functions in actin regulation in cells. Recent results indicate that MKL1 also has very important roles in immune cells, and that MKL1 deficiency results in an immunodeficiency affecting the migration and function of primarily myeloid cells such as neutrophils. Interestingly, several actinopathies are caused by mutations in genes which are recognized MKL(1/2)-dependent SRF-target genes, namely ACTB, WIPF1, WDR1, and MSN. Here we summarize these and related (ARPC1B) actinopathies and their effects on immune cell function, especially focusing on their effects on leukocyte adhesion and migration. Furthermore, we summarize recent therapeutic efforts targeting the MKL/SRF pathway in disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-458
Author(s):  
E. D. Merkushova ◽  
E. M. Khasanova ◽  
L. V. Gankovskaya

Psoriasis is a chronic auto-inflammatory, genetically determined dermatosis, being multifactorial by origin, characterized by hyperproliferation of epidermis, affected keratinocyte differentiation and inflammatory reaction in dermis. The disease is characterized by a tendency to spread over the area of lesion, and involvement of articular tissue in the pathological process, which significantly affects the living standards of patients and causes their disability. There are many provoking factors that contribute to occurrence of psoriasis, or progression of existing psoriatic process in individuals with a genetic predisposition. These factors include adverse climatic conditions, skin trauma, exposure to ultraviolet light, burns, infections, etc.This review describes the role of innate immunity in pathogenesis of psoriasis, and describes in detail the mechanisms involved into induction of inflammation of PAMPs and DAMPs. In psoriasis, positively charged catelicidin is considered one of the most important DAMPs, which can form a complex with negatively charged cell polyanions-LL-37/auto-RNA and LL-37/auto-DNA. The interaction of PAMP/DAMP ligands with specific PRR receptors leads to signal activation of effector components of immune system, i.e., assembly of inflammasome complex, caspase activation, synthesis of inflammatory cytokines and processing of their immature forms. The review focuses on the role of TLRs under the conditions of physiological norm, which recognize danger signals and provide protection from pathogens and their timely elimination, and in development of pathological process. Activation of TLRs induces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interferons and antimicrobial peptides, chemokines that support the development of psoriatic inflammation.In addition to TLRs, the mechanisms of involvement of inflammasomes in the development of psoriasis, which provides processing of mature forms of IL-1β and IL-18, are described in detail. Mature forms of these cytokines mediate the development of inflammation in psoriatic focus. In addition, processing of these cytokines by caspases using the positive feedback mechanism provides an additional signal to activate transcriptional activity of their genes and contributes to perpetuated inflammation.The review presents data confirming participation of inflammasomes in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Much attention is paid to description of pharmacological inhibitors of inflammasomes, which in the future may be the drugs of choice for treatment of inflammatory diseases. The study of molecular mechanisms of the innate immune system will reveal new approaches to prognosis and development of targeted therapy for psoriasis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (18) ◽  
pp. 9879
Author(s):  
Anna Krupa ◽  
Irina Kowalska

The kynurenine pathway (KP) is highly regulated in the immune system, where it promotes immunosuppression in response to infection or inflammation. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), the main enzyme of KP, has a broad spectrum of activity on immune cells regulation, controlling the balance between stimulation and suppression of the immune system at sites of local inflammation, relevant to a wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Various autoimmune diseases, among them endocrinopathies, have been identified to date, but despite significant progress in their diagnosis and treatment, they are still associated with significant complications, morbidity, and mortality. The precise cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to the onset and development of autoimmune disease remain poorly clarified so far. In breaking of tolerance, the cells of the innate immunity provide a decisive microenvironment that regulates immune cells’ differentiation, leading to activation of adaptive immunity. The current review provided a comprehensive presentation of the known role of IDO1 and KP activation in the regulation of the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. Significant attention has been paid to the immunoregulatory role of IDO1 in the most prevalent, organ-specific autoimmune endocrinopathies—type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and autoimmune thyroiditis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 314 (5) ◽  
pp. F679-F698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Sharma ◽  
Gilbert R. Kinsey

Foxp3-expressing CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) make up one subset of the helper T cells (Th) and are one of the major mechanisms of peripheral tolerance. Tregs prevent abnormal activation of the immune system throughout the lifespan, thus protecting from autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Recent studies have elucidated the role of Tregs beyond autoimmunity. Tregs play important functions in controlling not only innate and adaptive immune cell activation, but also regulate nonimmune cell function during insults and injury. Inflammation contributes to a multitude of acute and chronic diseases affecting the kidneys. This review examines the role of Tregs in pathogenesis of renal inflammatory diseases and explores the approaches for enhancing Tregs for prevention and therapy of renal inflammation.


Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Maglione ◽  
Simona Rolla ◽  
Stefania Federica De Mercanti ◽  
Santina Cutrupi ◽  
Marinella Clerico

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic central nervous system inflammatory disease that leads to demyelination and neurodegeneration. The third trimester of pregnancy, which is characterized by high levels of estrogens, has been shown to be associated with reduced relapse rates compared with the rates before pregnancy. These effects could be related to the anti-inflammatory properties of estrogens, which orchestrate the reshuffling of the immune system toward immunotolerance to allow for fetal growth. The action of these hormones is mediated by the transcriptional regulation activity of estrogen receptors (ERs). Estrogen levels and ER expression define a specific balance of immune cell types. In this review, we explore the role of estradiol (E2) and ERs in the adaptive immune system, with a focus on estrogen-mediated cellular, molecular, and epigenetic mechanisms related to immune tolerance and neuroprotection in MS. The epigenome dynamics of immune systems are described as key molecular mechanisms that act on the regulation of immune cell identity. This is a completely unexplored field, suggesting a future path for more extensive research on estrogen-induced coregulatory complexes and molecular circuitry as targets for therapeutics in MS.


2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Carnevale ◽  
Fabio Pallante ◽  
Valentina Fardella ◽  
Massimiliano De Lucia ◽  
Stefania Fardella ◽  
...  

Although several therapeutic strategies have been developed against the main components involved in blood pressure (BP) regulation, an optimum control in some hypertensive patients is still flawed, suggesting that mechanisms so far unidentified, sustain BP increase. Interestingly, an emerging area of investigation revealed that adaptive immunity is central in hypertension, since mice devoid of lymphocytes are protected from hypertension, and adoptive transfer of T cells, but not B cells, restores the typical hypertensive response. How hypertensive stimuli can afford this, still represents a fascinating enigma, challenging the search for molecular players, capable to bridge vascular responses to immunity and probably orchestrating the still unveiled role of immune system in hypertension. Among the manifold cytokines and inflammatory mediators, Placental Growth Factor (PlGF), belonging to a family of VEGF related angiogenic factors, caught our attention, given its role of “angiogenic cytokine” and its expression by cells of both the cardiovascular and the immune system. Moreover, it has also been recently shown that PlGF is secreted in vascular cells in response to AngII. Thus, we hypothesized that PlGF might recruit a selected type of immune cell, expressing its receptor VEGFR1, influencing the process of T cells activation during hypertensive challenges. We found that the typical hypertensive response induced by chronic AngII infusion, was completely prevented in mice with genetic deletion of PlGF, as well as the typical end organ damage induced by hypertension, i.e. cardiac hypertrophy, renal damage, microvascular rarefaction and immune cells infiltration in target organs. To determine whether the involvement of PlGF in immune system activation and T cells infiltration during AngII-induced hypertension had a causal role or was merely a consequence of the failure in BP raise, we analyzed both vessels and kidneys, early after AngII infusion, i.e. before BP increase. Strikingly, PlGF absence protected from early infiltration of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Overall our data indicate that PlGF is a pivotal player in the molecular mechanisms activating immune system recruitment during an hypertensive challenge, a central moment in the increase in BP.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Toobian ◽  
Pradipta Ghosh ◽  
Gajanan D. Katkar

Cells are richly equipped with nuclear receptors, which act as ligand-regulated transcription factors. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs), members of the nuclear receptor family, have been extensively studied for their roles in development, differentiation, and homeostatic processes. In the recent past, there has been substantial interest in understanding and defining the functions of PPARs and their agonists in regulating innate and adaptive immune responses as well as their pharmacologic potential in combating acute and chronic inflammatory disease. In this review, we focus on emerging evidence of the potential roles of the PPAR subtypes in macrophage biology. We also discuss the roles of dual and pan PPAR agonists as modulators of immune cell function, microbial infection, and inflammatory diseases.


Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Avery ◽  
Peter Hoffmann

Selenium is an essential micronutrient that plays a crucial role in development and a wide variety of physiological processes including effect immune responses. The immune system relies on adequate dietary selenium intake and this nutrient exerts its biological effects mostly through its incorporation into selenoproteins. The selenoproteome contains 25 members in humans that exhibit a wide variety of functions. The development of high-throughput omic approaches and novel bioinformatics tools has led to new insights regarding the effects of selenium and selenoproteins in human immuno-biology. Equally important are the innovative experimental systems that have emerged to interrogate molecular mechanisms underlying those effects. This review presents a summary of the current understanding of the role of selenium and selenoproteins in regulating immune cell functions and how dysregulation of these processes may lead to inflammation or immune-related diseases.


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