scholarly journals The Pro-Inflammatory Chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 Are Upregulated Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection in an AKT-Dependent Manner

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1062
Author(s):  
Victoria Callahan ◽  
Seth Hawks ◽  
Matthew A. Crawford ◽  
Caitlin W. Lehman ◽  
Holly A. Morrison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Pulmonary Complications ◽  
Lung Epithelial Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Akt Inhibitor ◽  
Inflammatory Chemokines ◽  
Inflammatory State ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Ifn Γ

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmissible RNA virus that is the causative agent of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Patients with severe COVID-19 may develop acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and require mechanical ventilation. Key features of SARS-CoV-2 induced pulmonary complications include an overexpression of pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines that contribute to a ‘cytokine storm.’ In the current study an inflammatory state in Calu-3 human lung epithelial cells was characterized in which significantly elevated transcripts of the immunostimulatory chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 were present. Additionally, an increase in gene expression of the cytokines IL-6, TNFα, and IFN-γ was observed. The transcription of CXCL9, CXCL10, IL-6, and IFN-γ was also induced in the lungs of human transgenic angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) mice infected with SARS-CoV-2. To elucidate cell signaling pathways responsible for chemokine upregulation in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells, small molecule inhibitors targeting key signaling kinases were used. The induction of CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 gene expression in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection was markedly reduced by treatment with the AKT inhibitor GSK690693. Samples from COVID-19 positive individuals also displayed marked increases in CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 transcripts as well as transcripts in the AKT pathway. The current study elucidates potential pathway specific targets for reducing the induction of chemokines that may be contributing to SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis via hyperinflammation.

scholarly journals The NS1 Protein of Influenza A Virus Blocks RIG-I-Mediated Activation of the Noncanonical NF-κB Pathway and p52/RelB-Dependent Gene Expression in Lung Epithelial Cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 86 (18) ◽  
pp. 10211-10217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Rückle ◽  
Emanuel Haasbach ◽  
Ilkka Julkunen ◽  
Oliver Planz ◽  
Christina Ehrhardt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Target Gene ◽  
Lung Epithelial Cells ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Antiviral Immune Response ◽  
Lung Epithelial ◽  
Infected Cells

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection of epithelial cells activates NF-κB transcription factors via the canonical NF-κB signaling pathway, which modulates both the antiviral immune response and viral replication. Since almost nothing is known so far about a function of noncanonical NF-κB signaling after IAV infection, we tested infected cells for activation of p52 and RelB. We show that the viral NS1 protein strongly inhibits RIG-I-mediated noncanonical NF-κB activation and expression of the noncanonical target gene CCL19.

scholarly journals Inhibition of acute lethal pulmonary inflammation by the IDO–AhR pathway

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (29) ◽  
pp. E5881-E5890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soung-Min Lee ◽  
Ha Young Park ◽  
Young-Sill Suh ◽  
Eun Hye Yoon ◽  
Juyang Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Pulmonary Inflammation ◽  
Lung Parenchyma ◽  
Lung Epithelial Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Lung Epithelial ◽  
Ifn Γ

The lung is a prototypic organ that was evolved to reduce immunopathology during the immune response to potentially hazardous endogenous and exogenous antigens. In this study, we show that donor CD4+ T cells transiently induced expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) in lung parenchyma in an IFN-γ–dependent manner early after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Abrogation of host IDO expression by deletion of the IDO gene or the IFN-γ gene in donor T cells or by FK506 treatment resulted in acute lethal pulmonary inflammation known as idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS). Interestingly, IL-6 strongly induced IDO expression in an IFN-γ–independent manner when deacetylation of STAT3 was inhibited. Accordingly, a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) could reduce IPS in the state where IFN-γ expression was suppressed by FK506. Finally, l-kynurenine produced by lung epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages during IPS progression suppresses the inflammatory activities of lung epithelial cells and CD4+ T cells through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway. Taken together, our results reveal that IDO is a critical regulator of acute pulmonary inflammation and that regulation of IDO expression by HDACi may be a therapeutic approach for IPS after HSCT.

Interferon-γ stimulates human Clara cell secretory protein production by human airway epithelial cells

1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (5) ◽  
pp. L864-L869 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. L. Yao ◽  
T. Ikezono ◽  
M. Cowan ◽  
C. Logun ◽  
C. W. Angus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Secretory Protein ◽  
Airway Epithelial Cells ◽  
Clara Cell ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Airway Epithelial ◽  
Clara Cell Secretory Protein ◽  
Ifn Γ

Clara cell secretory protein (CCSP) is an inhibitor of secretory phospholipase A2. It is produced by airway epithelial cells and is present in airway secretions. Because interferon (IFN)-γ can induce gene expression in airway epithelial cells and may modulate the inflammatory response in the airway, it was of interest to study the effect of this cytokine on epithelial cell CCSP mRNA expression and CCSP protein synthesis. A human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) was used for this study. CCSP mRNA was detected by ribonuclease protection assay. IFN-γ was found to increase CCSP mRNA expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The CCSP mRNA level increased after IFN-γ (300 U/ml) treatment for 8–36 h, with the peak increase at 18 h. Immunobloting of CCSP protein also demonstrated that IFN-γ induced the synthesis and secretion of CCSP protein in a time-dependent manner. Nuclear run-on, CCSP reporter gene activity assay, and CCSP mRNA half-life assay demonstrated that IFN-γ-induced increases in CCSP gene expression were mediated, at least in part, at the posttranscriptional level. The present study demonstrates that IFN-γ can induce increases in steady-state mRNA levels and protein synthesis of human CCSP protein in airway epithelial cells and may modulate airway inflammatory responses in this manner.

scholarly journals Oct-1 Is Posttranslationally Modified and Exhibits Reduced Capacity To Bind Cognate Sites at Late Times after Infection with Herpes Simplex Virus 1

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (22) ◽  
pp. 11927-11932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunil J. Advani ◽  
Lizette O. Durand ◽  
Ralph R. Weichselbaum ◽  
Bernard Roizman
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus ◽  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
Transcriptional Factors ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Cycle Dependent ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACT In herpes simplex virus 1-infected cells, a high level of α gene expression requires the transactivation of the genes by a complex containing the viral α transinducing factor (αTIF) and two cellular proteins. The latter two, HCF-1 and octamer binding protein Oct-1, are transcriptional factors regulated in a cell cycle-dependent manner. αTIF is a protein made late in infection but packaged with the virion to transactivate viral genes in newly infected cells. In light of the accumulation of large amounts of αTIF, the absence of α gene expression late in infection suggested the possibility that one or more transcriptional factors required for α gene expression is modified late in infection. Here we report that Oct-1 is posttranscriptionally modified late in infection, that the modification is mediated by the virus but does not involve viral protein kinases or cdc2 kinase activated by the virus late in infection, and that the modified Oct-1 has a reduced affinity for its cognate DNA site. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that modification of Oct-1 transcriptional factor could account at least in part for the shutoff of α gene expression late in infection.

scholarly journals Thrombin Induces NF-κB Activation and IL-8/CXCL8 Expression in Lung Epithelial Cells by a Rac1-dependent PI3K/Akt Pathway

2011 ◽  
Vol 286 (12) ◽  
pp. 10483-10494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Huang Lin ◽  
Hui-Wen Cheng ◽  
Hon-Ping Ma ◽  
Chih-Hsiung Wu ◽  
Chuang-Ye Hong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Human Lung ◽  
Luciferase Activity ◽  
Lung Epithelial Cells ◽  
Akt Pathway ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Akt Inhibitor ◽  
Iκb Kinase ◽  
Lung Epithelial ◽  
Human Lung Epithelial Cells

We previously showed that thrombin induces interleukin (IL)-8/CXCL8 expression via the protein kinase C (PKC)α/c-Src-dependent IκB kinase α/β (IKKα/β)/NF-κB signaling pathway in human lung epithelial cells. In this study, we further investigated the roles of Rac1, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and Akt in thrombin-induced NF-κB activation and IL-8/CXCL8 expression. Thrombin-induced IL-8/CXCL8 release and IL-8/CXCL8-luciferase activity were attenuated by a PI3K inhibitor (LY294002), an Akt inhibitor (1-l-6-hydroxymethyl-chiro-inositol-2-((R)-2-O-methyl-3-O-octadecylcarbonate)), and the dominant negative mutants of Rac1 (RacN17) and Akt (AktDN). Treatment of cells with thrombin caused activation of Rac and Akt. The thrombin-induced increase in Akt activation was inhibited by RacN17 and LY294002. Stimulation of cells with thrombin resulted in increases in IKKα/β activation and κB-luciferase activity; these effects were inhibited by RacN17, LY294002, an Akt inhibitor, and AktDN. Treatment of cells with thrombin induced Gβγ, p85α, and Rac1 complex formation in a time-dependent manner. These results imply that thrombin activates the Rac1/PI3K/Akt pathway through formation of the Gβγ, Rac1, and p85α complex to induce IKKα/β activation, NF-κB transactivation, and IL-8/CXCL8 expression in human lung epithelial cells.

AZT blocks down-regulation of IL-2 and IFN-γ gene expression in HIV acutely infected cells

1997 ◽  
Vol 142 (5) ◽  
pp. 1035-1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Fan ◽  
P. Li ◽  
T.-W. Kok ◽  
C. J. Burrell
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Down Regulation ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Ifn Γ

scholarly journals Rotavirus Antagonizes Cellular Antiviral Responses by Inhibiting the Nuclear Accumulation of STAT1, STAT2, and NF-κB

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (10) ◽  
pp. 4942-4951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavan Holloway ◽  
Thanhmai T. Truong ◽  
Barbara S. Coulson
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Viral Infection ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Host Responses ◽  
Nuclear Accumulation ◽  
Type I ◽  
Nonstructural Proteins ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Intracellular Expression ◽  
Infected Cells

ABSTRACT A vital arm of the innate immune response to viral infection is the induction and subsequent antiviral effects of interferon (IFN). Rotavirus reduces type I IFN induction in infected cells by the degradation of IFN regulatory factors. Here, we show that the monkey rotavirus RRV and human rotavirus Wa also block gene expression induced by type I and II IFNs through a mechanism allowing signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and STAT2 activation but preventing their nuclear accumulation. In infected cells, this may allow rotavirus to block the antiviral actions of IFN produced early in infection or by activated immune cells. As the intracellular expression of rotavirus nonstructural proteins NSP1, NSP3, and NSP4 individually did not inhibit IFN-stimulated gene expression, their involvement in this process is unlikely. RRV and Wa rotaviruses also prevented the tumor necrosis factor alpha-stimulated nuclear accumulation of NF-κB and NF-κB-driven gene expression. In addition, NF-κB was activated by rotavirus infection, confirming earlier findings by others. As NF-κB is important for the induction of IFN and other cytokines during viral infection, this suggests that rotavirus prevents cellular transcription as a means to evade host responses. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of this strategy by a double-stranded RNA virus.

Interferon-γ suppresses activin A/NF-E2 induction of erythroid gene expression through the NF-κB/c-Jun pathway

2014 ◽  
Vol 306 (4) ◽  
pp. C407-C414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Hwa Lee ◽  
Ming-Hui Chung ◽  
Yu-Hui Tsai ◽  
Ju-Ling Chang ◽  
Huei-Mei Huang
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Luciferase Activity ◽  
Globin Gene ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Promoter Activation ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Globin Promoter ◽  
Dose Dependent

Interferon (IFN)-γ is a proinflammatory cytokine that is linked to erythropoiesis inhibition and may contribute to anemia. However, the mechanism of IFN-γ-inhibited erythropoiesis is unknown. Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily, induces the erythropoiesis of hematopoietic progenitor cells. In this study, a luciferase reporter assay showed that IFN-γ suppressed activin A-induced ζ-globin promoter activation in K562 erythroblast cells in a dose-dependent manner. Activin A reversed the suppressive effect of IFN-γ on the luciferase activity of ζ-globin promoter in a dose-dependent manner. IFN-γ also suppressed the activation of activin A-induced α-globin promoter. IFN-γ reduced the mRNA expression of α-globin, ζ-globin, NF-E2p45, and GATA-1 induced by activin A. The results also showed that IFN-γ induced c-Jun expression when NF-κBp65 and c-Jun bound to two AP-1-binding sites on the c-Jun promoter. The luciferase activity of α-globin and ζ-globin promoters were enhanced by wild-type c-Jun and eliminated by dominant-negative (DN) c-Jun. The suppressive effects of IFN-γ on the mRNA expression of α-globin and ζ-globin were absent in cells expressing DN c-Jun. The ability of NF-E2 to enhance activin A-induced ζ-globin promoter activation decreased when c-Jun was present, and IFN-γ treatment further enhanced the decreasing effect of c-Jun. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that NF-E2p45 bound to the upstream regulatory element (HS-40) of the α-globin gene cluster in response to activin A, whereas c-Jun eliminated this binding. These results suggest that IFN-γ modulates NF-κB/c-Jun to antagonize activin A-mediated NF-E2 transcriptional activity on globin gene expression.

scholarly journals Immunosuppressive effect of hispidulin in allergic contact dermatitis

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Premrutai Thitilertdecha ◽  
Panwadee Pluangnooch ◽  
Sunita Timalsena ◽  
Kitipong Soontrapa
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Contact Dermatitis ◽  
Allergic Contact Dermatitis ◽  
Contact Hypersensitivity ◽  
Immunosuppressive Effect ◽  
Flavonoid Compound ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Allergic Contact

Abstract Background Long-term use of most immunosuppressants to treat allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) generates unavoidable severe side effects, warranting discovery or development of new immunosuppressants with good efficacy and low toxicity is urgently needed to treat this condition. Hispidulin, a flavonoid compound that can be delivered topically due to its favorable skin penetrability properties, has recently been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. However, no studies have investigated the effect of hispidulin on Th1 cell activities in an ACD setting. Methods A contact hypersensitivity (CHS) mouse model was designed to simulate human ACD. The immunosuppressive effect of hispidulin was investigated via ear thickness, histologic changes (i.e., edema and spongiosis), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) gene expression in 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB)-sensitized mice. Cytotoxicity, total number of CD4+ T cells, and percentage of IFN-γ-producing CD4+ T cells were also investigated in vitro using isolated CD4+ T cells from murine spleens. Results Topically applied hispidulin effectively inhibited ear swelling (as measured by reduction in ear thickness), and reduced spongiosis, IFN-γ gene expression, and the number of infiltrated immune cells. The inhibitory effect of hispidulin was observed within 6 h after the challenge, and the observed effects were similar to those effectuated after dexamethasone administration. Hispidulin at a concentration up to 50 μM also suppressed IFN-γ-producing CD4+ T cells in a dose-dependent manner without inducing cell death, and without a change in total frequencies of CD4+ T cells among different concentration groups. Conclusion The results of this study, therefore, suggest hispidulin as a novel compound for the treatment of ACD via the suppression of IFN-γ production in Th1 cells.

scholarly journals Comparison of Antiviral Activity of Gemcitabine with 2′-Fluoro-2′-Deoxycytidine and Combination Therapy with Remdesivir against SARS-CoV-2

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1581
Author(s):  
Yejin Jang ◽  
Jin Soo Shin ◽  
Myoung Kyu Lee ◽  
Eunhye Jung ◽  
Timothy An ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antiviral Activity ◽  
Human Lung ◽  
Lung Epithelial Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Fluorescent Image ◽  
Lung Epithelial ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Dose Dependent

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The virus still spreads globally through human-to-human transmission. Nevertheless, there are no specific treatments clinically approved. This study aimed to compare antiviral activity of gemcitabine and its analogue 2′-fluoro-2′-deoxycytidine (2FdC) against SARS-CoV-2 as well as cytotoxicity in vitro. Fluorescent image-based antiviral assays revealed that gemcitabine was highly potent, with a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 1.2 μM, more active than the well-known nucleoside monophosphate remdesivir (EC50 = 35.4 μM). In contrast, 2FdC was marginally active (EC50 = 175.2 μM). For all three compounds, the 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) values were over 300 μM toward Vero CCL-81 cells. Western blot and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses verified that gemcitabine blocked viral protein expression in virus-infected cells, not only Vero CCL-81 cells but also Calu-3 human lung epithelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. It was found that gemcitabine has a synergistic effect when combined with remdesivir. This report suggests that the difluoro group of gemcitabine is critical for the antiviral activity and that its combination with other evaluated antiviral drugs, such as remdesivir, could be a desirable option to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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