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Defects in RNA splicing have been linked to numerous human disorders, but remain poorly explored in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here, we report that, in the gut epithelium of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), the expression of the chromatin and alternative splicing regulator HP1γ is strongly reduced. Accordingly, inactivation of the HP1γ gene in the mouse gut triggered several IBD-like traits, including inflammation and dysbiosis. In parallel, we discovered that its loss of function broadly increased splicing noise, reducing requirement for canonical splicing consensus sequences, and favoring the usage of cryptic splice sites at numerous genes with key functions in gut biology. This notably resulted in the production of progerin, a noncanonical toxic splice variant of prelamin A mRNA, responsible for the Hutchinson Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) of premature aging. Likewise, production of progerin transcript was found to be a signature of colonic cells from UC patients. Thus, our study identifies HP1γ as a regulator of RNA metabolism in vivo, providing a unique mechanism linking anti-inflammation and accuracy of RNA splicing in the gut epithelium. HP1 defect may confer a general disturbance in RNA splicing precision to scrutinize in IBD and more generally in accelerating aging diseases.

International audience; Orexins (orexin-A and orexin-B) are hypothalamic peptides that are produced by the same precursor and are involved in sleep/wake control, which is mediated by two G protein-coupled receptor subtypes, OX1R and OX2R. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease, (IBD) which is characterized by long-lasting inflammation and ulcers that affect the colon and rectum mucosa and is known to be a significant risk factor for colon cancer development. Based on our recent studies showing that OX1R is aberrantly expressed in colon cancer, we wondered whether orexin-A could play a role in UC. Immunohistochemistry studies revealed that OX1R is highly expressed in the affected colonic epithelium of most UC patients, but not in the non-affected colonic mucosa. Injection of exogenous orexin-A specifically improved the inflammatory symptoms in the two colitis murine models. Conversely, injection of inactive orexin-A analog, OxB7-28 or OX1R specific antagonist SB-408124 did not have anti-inflammatory effect. Moreover, treatment with orexin-A in DSS-colitis induced OX1R −/− knockout mice did not have any protective effect. The orexin-A anti-inflammatory effect was due to the decreased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in immune cells and specifically in T-cells isolated from colonic mucosa. Moreover, orexin-A inhibited canonical NFκB activation in an immune cell line and in intestinal epithelial cell line. These results suggest that orexin-A might represent a promising alternative to current UC therapies.

Cross-presentation allows exogenous antigen presentation in association with major histocompatibility complex class I molecules, a process crucial for the priming of CD8+ T-cell responses against viruses and tumors. By contrast to conventional dendritic cells (cDC), which cross-present antigens in the steady state, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) acquire this ability only after stimulation by Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands. The intracellular pathways accounting for this functional difference are still unknown. Here we show that the induction of cross-presentation by pDCs is regulated by mitochondria through a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent mechanism, involving pH alkalization and antigen protection. The reduction of mitochondrial ROS production dramatically decreases the cross-presentation capacity of pDCs, leading to a strong reduction of their capacity to trigger CD8+ T-cell responses. Our results demonstrate the importance of mitochondrial metabolism in pDC biology, particularly for the induction of adaptive immune responses., Cross-presentation allows exogenous antigens to be presented by the major histocompatibility I pathway. Here the authors show that the inducible cross-presentation by plasmacytoid dendritic cells is modulated by mitochondria-originated reactive oxygen species.

Aims: Steadily the clinicians of our team in inflammatory bowel disease encounter ulcerative colitis patients that develop deep ulcers during their treatment. Currently, these practitioners are only equipped with their grade of expertise in inflammatory domains to decide what new therapy maybe use in such cases. Encouraged by the limited knowledge of this frequent pathology, we seek to determine the molecular conditions underlying the recurrent formation of deep ulcerations in certain group of patients. Method: The goal of this strategy is to expose differences between groups of patients based on similarities computed by random walk graph kernels and performing functional inference on those differences. Results: We apply the methodology to a cohort of eleven miRNA microarrays of ulcerative colitis patients. Our results showed how the group of ulcerative colitis patients with presence of deep ulcers is topologically more similar (0.35) than ulcerative colitis patients (0.18) to control. Such topological constraint drove functional inference to complete the information that clinicians need. Conclusions: Our analyses reveal highly interpretable in the guidance of practitioners to eventually correct initial therapies of ulcerative colitis patients that develop deep ulcers. The methodology can provide them with useful molecular hypotheses necessaries prior to make any decision on the newest course of the treatment.

Backgrounds and Aims: The effect of cigarette smoking [CS] is ambivalent since smoking improves ulcerative colitis [UC] while it worsens Crohn’s disease [CD]. Although this clinical relationship between inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] and tobacco is well established, only a few experimental works have investigated the effect of smoking on the colonic barrier homeostasis focusing on xenobiotic detoxification genes. Methods: A comprehensive and integrated comparative analysis of the global xenobiotic detoxification capacity of the normal colonic mucosa of healthy smokers [ n = 8] and non-smokers [ n = 9] versus the non-affected colonic mucosa of UC patients [ n = 19] was performed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction [qRT PCR]. The detoxification gene expression profile was analysed in CD patients [ n = 18], in smoking UC patients [ n = 5], and in biopsies from non-smoking UC patients cultured or not with cigarette smoke extract [ n = 8]. Results: Of the 244 detoxification genes investigated, 65 were dysregulated in UC patients in comparison with healthy controls or CD patients. The expression of ≥ 45/65 genes was inversed by CS in biopsies of smoking UC patients in remission and in colonic explants of UC patients exposed to cigarette smoke extract. We devised a network-based data analysis approach for differentially assessing changes in genetic interactions, allowing identification of unexpected regulatory detoxification genes that may play a major role in the beneficial effect of smoking on UC. Conclusions: Non-inflamed colonic mucosa in UC is characterised by a specifically altered detoxification gene network, which is partially restored by tobacco. These mucosal signatures could be useful for developing new therapeutic strategies and biomarkers of drug response in UC.

Background Aside from cases of backwash ileitis, the ileal mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), an idiotypic inflammatory bowel disease, has received little attention despite the fact that colitis is known to trigger alterations in morphology and/or functions of the small intestine remotely. Methods The ileal mucosa was studied in patients with UC and in a spontaneous model of colitis (Il10/Nox1 dKO mice) mimicking the histological and clinical features of UC and was also studied in acute and chronic murine models of chemically induced colitis. Proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using morphological and immunohistological methods and Western blot analysis. Peyer's patch immune cell subsets were analyzed. Cytokines levels were quantified using quantitative PCR and Luminex xMAP technology. Total RNA from isolated ileal crypts was used for whole genome transcriptome analysis. Results The most striking features were an increased ileal crypt length associated with an enhanced cell proliferation of the transit-amplifying cells along with activation of the Wnt/β-catenin and MAPkinase pathways. These changes did not result from intestinal inflammation as assessed by histology and/or pro-inflammatory cytokine expression levels. The increased proliferation rate was dependent on the duration but not on the severity of colitis and was observed in different mouse models of colitis, including the Il10/Nox1 dKO model and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-treated mice. Interestingly, the ileal mucosa of patients with UC also displayed longer crypts and enhanced cell proliferation compared with control patients. Conclusions These data show that despite the absence of inflammation in the small intestine, alterations in the ileal mucosa homeostasis are present in UC. Copyright © 2016 Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, Inc.

International audience; BackgroundUlcerative colitis (UC) promotes cancer, and can be ameliorated by early appendicectomy for appendicitis. The aim of the study was to explore the effect of appendicectomy on colitis and colonic neoplasia in an animal model of colitis and a cohort of patients with UC. MethodsFive-week old IL10/Nox1(DKO) mice with nascent colitis and 8-week-old IL10/Nox1(DKO) mice with established colitis underwent appendicectomy (for experimental appendicitis or no appendicitis) or sham laparotomy. The severity and extent of colitis was assessed by histopathological examination, and a clinical disease activity score was given. From a cohort of consecutive patients with UC who underwent colectomy, the prevalence of appendicectomy and pathological findings were collected from two institutional databases. ResultsAppendicectomy for appendicitis ameliorated experimental colitis in the mice; the effect was more pronounced in the 5-week-old animals. Appendicectomy in the no-appendicitis group was associated with an increased rate of colonic high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or cancer compared with rates in sham and appendicitis groups (13 of 20 versus 0 of 20 and 0 of 20 respectively; P < 0001). Fifteen of 232 patients who underwent colectomy for UC had previously had an appendicectomy, and nine of these had colonic cancer or HGD. Thirty (138 per cent) of 217 patients with the appendix insitu had colonic neoplastic lesions. Multivariable analysis showed that previous appendicectomy was associated with colorectal neoplasia (odds ratio 1688, 95 per cent c.i. 332 to 11269). ConclusionAppendicectomy for experimental appendicitis ameliorated colitis. The risk of colorectal neoplasia appeared to increase following appendicectomy without induced appendicitis in a mouse model of colitis, and in patients with UC who had undergone appendicectomy. Surgical relevance Appendicectomy for appendicitis protects against UC. In this murine model of colitis, appendicectomy for experimental appendicitis protected against colitis, but appendicectomy without appendicitis promoted colorectal carcinogenesis. In patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent colectomy, absence of the appendix (proof of previous appendicectomy) in the resection specimen was independently associated with colorectal neoplasia. Although patients with UC and a history of appendicectomy represent a small subset, they may need closer monitoring for colorectal neoplasia. Appendicectomy reduces inflammation, increases risk for cancer

TLR4 plays a central role in resistance to pyelonephritis caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). It has been suggested that renal tubule epithelial cells expressing TLRs may play a key role in inflammatory disorders and in initiating host defenses. In this study we used an experimental mouse model of ascending urinary tract infection to show that UPEC isolates preferentially adhered to the apical surface of medullary collecting duct (MCD) intercalated cells. UPEC-infected C3H/HeJ (Lpsd) mice carrying an inactivating mutation of tlr4 failed to clear renal bacteria and exhibited a dramatic slump in proinflammatory mediators as compared with infected wild-type C3H/HeOuJ (Lpsn) mice. However, the level of expression of the leukocyte chemoattractants MIP-2 and TNF-α still remained greater in UPEC-infected than in naive C3H/HeJ (Lpsd) mice. Using primary cultures of microdissected Lpsn MCDs that expressed TLR4 and its accessory molecules MD2, MyD88, and CD14, we also show that UPECs stimulated both a TLR4-mediated, MyD88-dependent, TIR domain-containing adaptor-inducing IFN-β-independent pathway and a TLR4-independent pathway, leading to bipolarized secretion of MIP-2. Stimulation by UPECs of the TLR4-mediated pathway in Lpsn MCDs leads to the activation of NF-κB, and MAPK p38, ERK1/2, and JNK. In addition, UPECs stimulated TLR4-independent signaling by activating a TNF receptor-associated factor 2-apoptosis signal-regulatory kinase 1-JNK pathway. These findings demonstrate that epithelial collecting duct cells are actively involved in the initiation of an immune response via several distinct signaling pathways and suggest that intercalated cells play an active role in the recognition of UPECs colonizing the kidneys.

International audience; Collecting duct (CD) principal cells are exposed to large physiologic variations of apical Na+ influx as a result of variations of Na(+) intake and extrarenal losses. It was shown previously that increasing intracellular [Na+] induces recruitment of Na,K-ATPase to the cell surface in a protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent manner in both native and cultured renal CD principal cells. As described previously in response to cytokines in nonrenal cells, PKA activation in response to increased intracellular [Na+] was independent of cAMP and required proteasomal activity. With the use of cultured mpkCCD(cL4) cells as a model of CD principal cells, whether cytokines and increased intracellular [Na+] share a common signaling pathway leading to cell-surface Na,K-ATPase recruitment was investigated. Results showed that two potent inducers of NF-kappaB, LPS and TNF-alpha, enhance Na+ transport and induce cell-surface Na,K-ATPase recruitment in mpkCCD(cL4) cells via cAMP-independent PKA activation. In addition, increased intracellular [Na+] after selective plasma membrane permeabilization by a low concentration of the Na+ ionophore amphotericin B (1 microg/ml) induced dissociation of the PKA catalytic subunit from p65-NF-kappaB and IkappaBalpha. Moreover, inhibitors of NF-kappaB/IkappaB dissociation prevented both Na+-dependent stimulation of PKA activity and cell-surface Na,K-ATPase recruitment. Altogether, these results revealed the presence of a novel Na+-dependent intracellular signaling pathway leading to Na,K-ATPase cell-surface recruitment via dissociation of the PKA catalytic subunit from a macromolecular complex that contains NF-kappaB and IkappaBalpha in CD epithelial cells.

Background Oxidized low-density lipoproteins play key roles in atherosclerosis. Their toxicity is at least in part due to 7-ketocholesterol (7KC), which is a potent inducer of apoptosis. In this study on human promonocytic U937 cells, we determined the effects and the interactions of 7KC with cellular lipids during 7KC-induced apoptosis. Methods Morphologic and functional changes were investigated by microscopic and flow cytometric methods after staining with propidium iodide, 3,3′-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide, and Hoechst 33342. Cellular lipid content was identified by using filipin to quantify free cholesterol and Nile Red (NR), which emit a yellow or orange-red fluorescence in the presence of neutral and polar lipids, respectively. After staining with NR, interactions of 7KC with cellular lipids were identified by fluorescence resonance energy transfer biphoton spectral imaging confocal microscopy and by subcellular fractionation, gas chromatography, and mass spectrometry. Results During 7KC-induced apoptosis the fluorescence from filipin and the ratio of measured (orange-red vs. yellow) fluorescence of NR were enhanced. Spectral analysis of images obtained in biphoton mode and resulting factor images demonstrated the occurrence of fluorescence resonance energy transfer between 7KC and NR and the subsequent colocalization of 7KC and NR. These data were in agreement with biochemical characterization and demonstrated that 7KC and neutral and polar lipids accumulate in NR-stained cytoplasmic structures. Conclusions During 7KC-induced apoptosis, 7KC modifies the cellular content of neutral and polar lipids, favors free cholesterol accumulation, and colocalizes with neutral and polar lipids that are inside NR-stained cytoplasmic structures. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

International audience; We have previously reported that 1-deoxymannojirimycin (dMM), a specific alpha-mannosidase I inhibitor interfered with the uptake of D-[2-3H]mannose in differentiated HT-29 cells (a cell line derived from a human colon adenocarcinoma) (Ogier-Denis, E., Trugnan, G., Sapin, C., Aubery, M., and Codogno, P. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 5366-5369). In the present work, we have used another cell line derived from a human colon adenocarcinoma, Caco-2 cells, which has the capacity to grow and to differentiate on porous filters. We have determined that mannose could enter the cells by two distinct transporters. One sensitive to dMM, present at the basolateral membrane of differentiated Caco-2 cells, and one insensitive to the drug localized at the brush border membrane of these cells. The basolateral mannose uptake is mediated by a Na(+)-independent transporter whereas the apical entry of mannose is under the dependence of Na+. We have focused our studies on the basolateral dMM-sensitive mannose carrier. Kinetic studies indicated that this facilitative mannose transporter has a Km and a Vmax of 55 +/- 8 microM and 0.144 +/- 0.005 mumol/mg of protein/min, respectively. This basolateral transporter is clearly distinct from facilitative glucose transporters. Moreover, this dMM-sensitive mannose transport accurately follows the differentiation process of intestinal epithelial cells as well in vitro as shown using Caco-2 cells as in vivo when experiments were done on crypt cells and villus cells isolated from rat jejunum.

International audience; When the human colon cancer cells HT-29 undergo enterocytic differentiation, they correctly process their N-glycans, whereas their undifferentiated counterpart are unable to process Man9-8-GlcNAc2 species, the natural substrate of alpha-mannosidase I. As this enzyme is fully active in both HT-29 cell populations, we hypothesize that N-glycoproteins are unable to reach the cis Golgi, the site where alpha-mannosidase I has been localized. We have demonstrated this point by using 1-deoxymannojirimycin, leupeptin, and monensin. In the presence of 1-deoxymannojirimycin, a specific inhibitor of alpha-mannosidase I, differentiated HT-29 cells, as expected, accumulate Man9-8-GlcNAc2 species, whereas in undifferentiated HT-29 cells these compounds continue to be rapidly degraded. In contrast, the use of leupeptin, a specific inhibitor of thiol and serine proteases, leads to the accumulation of these oligosaccharides in undifferentiated HT-29 cells. Monensin, a carboxylic ionophore that perturbs distal Golgi functions, is unable to stabilize these compounds. Therefore, we conclude that N-linked glycoproteins in undifferentiated HT-29 cells rapidly egress from the exocytic pathway to a leupeptin-sensitive degradative compartment without entering a monensin-sensitive compartment. These results favor the hypothesis that a direct pathway should exist between the rough endoplasmic reticulum and a leupeptin-sensitive degradative compartment in undifferentiated HT-29 cells. The emergence of this new pathway could explain why protein stability and N-glycan processing may vary as a function of the state of cell differentiation.

International audience; 1-Deoxymannojirimycin (dMM), a specific alpha-mannosidase I inhibitor, completely blocks the conversion of Man9-8GlcNAc2 into Man7-5-GlcNAc2 in both differentiated and undifferentiated human adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells. Besides this well known effect on N-glycan trimming, we describe here a novel effect of this inhibitor on the D-[2-3H]mannose uptake that is exclusively observed in differentiated intestinal cells, i.e. cells that display a functional apical brush border membrane. This inhibition of D-[2-3H]mannose uptake was shown to be dose-dependent and reversible. Moreover, using microsomal fractions we showed that this effect depends only on the integrity of the brush border and is unrelated to the classical inhibitory effect of dMM on N-glycan processing. Furthermore, another N-glycan trimming inhibitor 1-deoxynojirimycin, an epimer of dMM, did not interfere with D-[2-3H]mannose uptake. This observation was in good agreement with the specificity of the effect induced by dMM. These results demonstrate a novel effect of dMM on highly differentiated intestinal cells and suggest that a carrier-mediated mannose transport could exist in those cells. Such an interaction between cell morphology and the biological effect of dMM should lead to a careful use of drugs acting on N-glycan processing.

International audience; The human colon cancer cell line HT-29 remains totally undifferentiated when glucose is present in the culture medium (HT-29 Glc+), while the same cells may undergo typical enterocytic differentiation after reaching confluence when grown in glucose-deprived medium (HT-29 Glc-). Recently, we demonstrated a deficiency in the overall N-glycan processing in confluent undifferentiated cells, whereas differentiated cells follow a classical pattern of N-glycosylation. The main changes in N-glycosylation observed in confluent undifferentiated cells may be summarised as follows: 1) the conversion of high mannose into complex glycopeptides is greatly decreased; 2) this decreased conversion could be a consequence of an accumulation of Man9-8-GlcNAc2-Asn high mannose species. Whether these changes in N-glycan processing appear progressively during cell culture or are already present from the beginning of the culture was investigated in this study by comparing the actual status of N-glycan processing in exponentially growing HT-29 Glc- and HT-29 Glc+ cells. Under these conditions, HT-29 Glc- cells do not exhibit any characteristics of differentiation. The conversion of high mannose into complex glycoproteins is severely reduced in HT-29 Glc+ cells, regardless of the growth phase studied. In contrast, HT-29 Glc- cells display a normal pattern of N-glycan processing in both growth phases. We therefore conclude that N-glycan processing may be used as an early biochemical marker of the enterocytic differentiation process of HT-29 cells.

International audience; The inability of HT-29 cells to undergo an enterocytic differentiation when grown in a glucose-containing (Glc+) medium has been recently correlated to an overall impairment of N-glycan processing. These results were obtained using confluent HT-29 cells in which the differentiation characteristics are fully expressed under differentiation permissive conditions (glucose-deprived medium, Glc-). Whether these changes of N-glycan processing appear progressively during the cell growth or are already present from the beginning of the culture was investigated in this work by comparing the actual status of N-glycan processing in both exponentially growing Glc+ and Glc- HT-29 cells. Under these conditions, HT-29 cells do not express any characteristics of enterocytic differentiation, even when grown in differentiation permissive conditions. We show here that the conversion of high-mannose to complex glycoproteins is, however, severely reduced in HT-29 cells grown in differentiation non-permissive conditions (HT-29 Glc+) whatever the phase of growth studied. In contrast, HT-29 cells grown in differentiation permissive conditions (HT-29 Glc-) display a normal pattern of N-glycan processing in both the exponential and the stationary phase of growth. We also show that both growing and confluent HT-29 Glc+ cells accumulate Man GlcNAc2 species, thus suggesting that there is an important regulatory point at this level. We therefore conclude that the N-glycan processing may be used as an early biochemical probe for the enterocytic differentiation of HT-29 cells. Whether these early changes result from an early metabolic regulation or are the consequence of a genetic control remains to be studied.

International audience; Inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) is a major mediator of the unfolded protein response (UPR), which is activated upon endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Tumor cells experience ER stress due to adverse microenvironmental cues, a stress overcome by relying on IRE1 signaling as an adaptive mechanism. Herein, we report the discovery of structurally new IRE1 inhibitors identified through the structural exploration of its kinase domain. Characterization in in vitro and in cellular models showed that they inhibit IRE1 signaling and sensitize glioblastoma (GB) cells to the standard chemotherapeutic, temozolomide (TMZ). Finally, we demonstrate that one of these inhibitors, Z4P, permeates the blood-brain barrier (BBB), inhibits GB growth, and prevents relapse in vivo when administered together with TMZ. The hit compound disclosed herein satisfies an unmet need for targeted, non-toxic IRE1 inhibitors and our results support the attractiveness of IRE1 as an adjuvant therapeutic target in GB.