scholarly journals Variable Induction of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines by Commercial SARS CoV-2 Spike Protein Reagents: Potential Impacts of LPS on In Vitro Modeling and Pathogenic Mechanisms In Vivo

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 7540
Author(s):  
Weiming Ouyang ◽  
Tao Xie ◽  
Hui Fang ◽  
Chunling Gao ◽  
Tzanko Stantchev ◽  
...  

Proinflammatory cytokine production following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Like SARS CoV-1, SARS CoV-2 enters host cells via its spike protein, which attaches to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As SARS CoV-1 spike protein is reported to induce cytokine production, we hypothesized that this pathway could be a shared mechanism underlying pathogenic immune responses. We herein compared the capabilities of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), SARS CoV-1 and SARS CoV-2 spike proteins to induce cytokine expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We observed that only specific commercial lots of SARS CoV-2 induce cytokine production. Surprisingly, recombinant SARS CoV-2 spike proteins from different vendors and batches exhibited different patterns of cytokine induction, and these activities were not inhibited by blockade of spike protein-ACE2 binding using either soluble ACE2 or neutralizing anti-S1 antibody. Moreover, commercial spike protein reagents contained varying levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which correlated directly with their abilities to induce cytokine production. The LPS inhibitor, polymyxin B, blocked this cytokine induction activity. In addition, SARS CoV-2 spike protein avidly bound soluble LPS in vitro, rendering it a cytokine inducer. These results not only suggest caution in monitoring the purity of SARS CoV-2 spike protein reagents, but they indicate the possibility that interactions of SARS CoV-2 spike protein with LPS from commensal bacteria in virally infected mucosal tissues could promote pathogenic inflammatory cytokine production.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiming Ouyang ◽  
Tao Xie ◽  
Hui Fang ◽  
Chunling Gao ◽  
Tzanko Stantchev ◽  
...  

Proinflammatory cytokine production following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Like SARS CoV-1, SARS CoV-2 enters host cells via its spike protein, which attaches to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As SARS CoV-1 spike protein is reported to induce cytokine production, we hypothesized that this pathway could be a shared mechanism underlying pathogenic immune responses. We herein compared the capabilities of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), SARS CoV-1 and SARS CoV-2 spike proteins to induce cytokine expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We observed that only specific commercial lots of SARS CoV-2 induce cytokine production. Surprisingly, recombinant SARS CoV-2 spike proteins from different vendors and batches exhibited different patterns of cytokine induction, and these activities were not inhibited by blockade of spike protein-ACE2 binding using either soluble ACE2 or neutralizing anti-S1 antibody. Moreover, commercial spike protein reagents contained varying levels of endotoxin, which correlated directly with their abilities to induce cytokine production. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhibitor, polymyxin B, blocked this cytokine induction activity. In addition, SARS CoV-2 spike protein avidly bound soluble LPS in vitro, rendering it a cytokine inducer. These results not only suggest caution in monitoring the purity of SARS CoV-2 spike protein reagents, but they indicate the possibility that interactions of SARS CoV-2 spike protein with LPS from commensal bacteria in virally infected mucosal tissues could promote pathogenic inflammatory cytokine production.


Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 702
Author(s):  
Tauseef Ahmad ◽  
Mathew Suji Eapen ◽  
Muhammad Ishaq ◽  
Ah Young Park ◽  
Samuel S. Karpiniec ◽  
...  

Fucoidans are sulfated, complex, fucose-rich polymers found in brown seaweeds. Fucoidans have been shown to have multiple bioactivities, including anti-inflammatory effects, and are known to inhibit inflammatory processes via a number of pathways such as selectin blockade and enzyme inhibition, and have demonstrated inhibition of inflammatory pathologies in vivo. In this current investigation, fucoidan extracts from Undaria pinnatifida, Fucus vesiculosus, Macrocystis pyrifera, Ascophyllum nodosum, and Laminaria japonica were assessed for modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in a human macrophage line (THP-1). Fucoidan extracts exhibited no signs of cytotoxicity in THP-1 cells after incubation of 48 h. Additionally, all fucoidan extracts reduced cytokine production in LPS stimulated PBMCs and human THP-1 cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Notably, the 5–30 kDa subfraction from Macrocystis pyrifera was a highly effective inhibitor at lower concentrations. Fucoidan extracts from all species had significant anti-inflammatory effects, but the lowest molecular weight subfractions had maximal effects at low concentrations. These observations on various fucoidan extracts offer insight into strategies that improve their efficacy against inflammation-related pathology. Further studies should be conducted to elucidate the mechanism of action of these extracts.


Blood ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 83 (9) ◽  
pp. 2516-2525 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Meszaros ◽  
S Aberle ◽  
R Dedrick ◽  
R Machovich ◽  
A Horwitz ◽  
...  

Abstract Mononuclear phagocytes, stimulated by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), have been implicated in the activation of coagulation in sepsis and endotoxemia. In monocytes LPS induces the synthesis of tissue factor (TF) which, assembled with factor VII, initiates the blood coagulation cascades. In this study we investigated the mechanism of LPS recognition by monocytes, and the consequent expression of TF mRNA and TF activity. We also studied the inhibition of these effects of LPS by rBPI23, a 23-kD recombinant fragment of bactericidal/permeability increasing protein, which has been shown to antagonize LPS in vitro and in vivo. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, or monocytes isolated by adherence, were stimulated with Escherichia coli O113 LPS at physiologically relevant concentrations (> or = 10 pg/mL). The effect of LPS was dependent on the presence of the serum protein LBP (lipopolysaccharide-binding protein), as shown by the potentiating effect of human recombinant LBP or serum. Furthermore, recognition of low amounts of LPS by monocytes was also dependent on CD14 receptors, because monoclonal antibodies against CD14 greatly reduced the LPS sensitivity of monocytes in the presence of serum or rLBP. Induction of TF activity and mRNA expression by LPS were inhibited by rBPI23. The expression of tumor necrosis factor showed qualitatively similar changes. Considering the involvement of LPS-induced TF in the potentially lethal intravascular coagulation in sepsis, inhibition of TF induction by rBPI23 may be of therapeutic benefit.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 509-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna J. Boland ◽  
Nisha Gangadharan ◽  
Pierce Kavanagh ◽  
Linda Hemeryck ◽  
Jennifer Kieran ◽  
...  

Statins are mainstream therapy in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease through inhibitory effects on cholesterol synthesis. However, statins’ beneficial effects in cardiovascular disease may also be attributable to their role as anti-inflammatory mediators. Here, we investigated the effects of simvastatin treatment on expression levels of interleukin (IL) 1β in both patient with hyperlipidemia and healthy human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using cholesterol crystals (CC), a cardiovascular pathogenic stimulus for activation of the NOD-like receptor pyrin domain–containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Cholesterol crystal-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation was used to trigger maturation and release of IL-1β in PBMCs. Specifically, isolated PBMCs from patients with hyperlipidemia at baseline and following 8 weeks of in vivo treatment with simvastatin (10-20 mg) daily were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 100 ng/mL) for 3 hours to induce proIL-Iβ expression followed by CC (2 mg/mL) stimulation for further 18 hours to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome complex to induce maturation/activation of IL-1β. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were also isolated from healthy donors and stimulated in vitro with simvastatin (50, 25, 5, and 2 µmol/L) prior to stimulation with LPS and CC as described above. The effects of simvastatin treatment on levels of IL-1β expression were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot. Both in vitro and in vivo treatments with simvastatin led to a significant reduction in the levels of expression of IL-1β in response to stimulation with CC. Simvastatin inhibits the expression and activation of IL-1β induced by CC in PBMCs, which may contribute to its protective role in patients with cardiovascular disease.


Blood ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 869-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
JW Singer ◽  
A Keating ◽  
R Ramberg ◽  
R McGuffin ◽  
JE Sanders ◽  
...  

Abstract This article describes the course of a patient who received an allogeneic marrow graft from his HLA-identical sister for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in second remission. In the second month after grafting, marrow aspirates showed the presence of 7%-10% lymphoblasts. In addition, cytogenetic examination indicated the persistence of host cells. Thereafter, the patient had morphologically normal marrow examinations, with no evidence for recurrent leukemia. In addition, stable hematopoietic chimerism in both the lymphoid and myeloid cell lines has persisted for over 5 yr. Between 20% and 50% of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were host-derived on repeated studies. A marrow sample 4 yr after transplantation was established in long-term culture and produced 2% host granulocyte-macrophage colonies at its inception, but 24% host colonies by week 4. Despite this persistent chimerism, no in vitro or in vivo abnormalities of hematopoiesis have been detected.


Pteridines ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-243
Author(s):  
Sebastian Schroecksnadel ◽  
Elena-Sophia Ledjeff ◽  
Johanna Gostner ◽  
Christiana Winkler ◽  
Katharina Kurz ◽  
...  

AbstractIn vitro, large amounts of neopterin are released from human monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells primarily upon stimulation with Th1-type cytokine interferon-γ (IFN-γ). IFN-γ also induces the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), which degrades tryptophan (TRP) to form kynurenine (KYN). IDO-mediated TRP catabolism is very effective in suppressing the proliferation of T lymphocytes as well as of pathogens in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we investigated whether exogenously added neopterin may influence IDO activity in resting and in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). PBMC were isolated from healthy donors, and neopterin was added in a concentration range from 0.01 to 50 μmol/L. After 30 min, PBMC were stimulated or not with 10 μg/mL of mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA). After 48 h, culture supernatants were collected, KYN and TRP concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the ratio of KYN vs. TRP was calculated as an estimate of IDO activity. Spontaneous as well as PHA-induced TRP breakdown was suppressed by exogenously added neopterin in a dose-dependent way; the lowest active concentration of neopterin was <100 nmol/L. As neopterin concentrations in the nanomolar range are commonly observed in patients suffering from infections, sepsis, or uremia, our results suggest that neopterin formation might also serve as a feedback mechanism to slow down TRP degradation in vivo.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document