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Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a hereditary disease typically characterized by infection-associated chronic lung inflammation. The persistent activation of toll-like receptor (TLR) signals is considered one of the mechanisms for the CF hyperinflammatory phenotype; however, how negative regulatory signals of TLRs associate with CF inflammation is still elusive. Here, we showed that the cell surface expression of a single immunoglobulin interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R)-related molecule (SIGIRR), a membrane protein essential for suppressing TLRs- and IL-1R-dependent signals, was remarkably decreased in CF airway epithelial cells compared to non-CF cells. Notably, CF airway epithelial cells specifically and highly expressed a unique, alternative splice isoform of the SIGIRR that lacks exon 8 (Δ8-SIGIRR), which results in the production of a C-terminal truncated form of the SIGIRR. Δ8-SIGIRR was expressed intracellularly, and its over-expression abolished the cell surface expression and function of the full-length SIGIRR (WT-SIGIRR), indicating its dominant-negative effect leading to the deficiency of anti-inflammatory activity in CF cells. Consistently, IL-37, a ligand for the SIGIRR, failed to suppress viral dsRNA analogue poly(I:C)-dependent JNK activation and IL-8 production, confirming the reduction in the functional WT-SIGIRR expression in the CF cells. Together, our studies reveal that SIGIRR-dependent anti-inflammatory activity is defective in CF airway epithelial cells due to the unique splicing switch of the SIGIRR gene and provides the first evidence of IL-37-SIGIRR signaling as a target of CF airway inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor suppressor genes regulate the antiviral host defense through molecular mechanisms that are not yet well explored. Here, we show that the tumor suppressor retinoblastoma (Rb) protein positively regulates Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) expression, the sensing receptor for viral double-stranded RNA and poly(I·C). TLR3 expression was lower in Rb knockout (Rb'/') mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) and in mammalian epithelial cells transfected with Rb small-interfering RNA (siRNA) than in control cells. Consequently, induction of cytokines interleukin-8 and beta interferon after poly(I·C) stimulation was impaired in Rb'/' MEF and Rb siRNA-transfected cells compared to controls. TLR3 promoter analysis showed that Rb modulates the transcription factor E2F1, which directly binds to the proximal promoter of TLR3. Exogenous addition of E2F1 decreased TLR3 promoter activity, while Rb dose dependently curbed the effect of E2F1. Interestingly, poly(I·C) increased the Rb expression, and the poly(I·C)-induced TLR3 expression was impaired in Rb-depleted cells, suggesting the importance of Rb in TLR3 induction by poly(I·C). Together, these data indicated that E2F1 suppresses TLR3 transcription, but during immune stimulation, Rb is upregulated to block the inhibitory effect of E2F1 on TLR3, highlighting a role of Rb-E2F1 axis in the innate immune response in epithelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical course of cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by recurrent pulmonary infections and chronic inflammation. We have recently shown that decreased methylation of the toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2) promoter leads to an apparent CF-related up-regulation of TLR2. This up-regulation could be responsible, in part, for the CF-associated enhanced proinflammatory responses to various bacterial products in epithelial cells. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying DNA hypomethylation-dependent enhancement of TLR2 expression in CF cells remain unknown. Results: The present study indicates that there is a specific CpG region (CpG#18-20), adjacent to the SP1 binding site that is significantly hypomethylated in several CF epithelial cell lines. These CpGs encompass a minimal promoter region required for basal TLR2 expression, and suggests that CpG#18-20 methylation regulates TLR2 expression in epithelial cells. Furthermore, reporter gene analysis indicated that the SP1 binding site is involved in the methylation-dependent regulation of the TLR2 promoter. Inhibition of SP1 with mithramycin A decreased TLR2 expression in both CF and 5-azacytidine-treated non-CF epithelial cells. Moreover, even though SP1 binding was not affected by CpG methylation, SP1-dependent transcription was abolished by CpG methylation. Conclusion: This report implicates SP1 as a critical component of DNA demethylation-dependent up-regulation of TLR2 expression in CF epithelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Myeloid Elf-1 like factor (MEF) is an ETS protein, which activates the promoters of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-3, lysozyme, human beta defensin-2 and perforin. In spite of its many known functions, little is known about MEF transcriptional regulation. Here, we cloned the 5′-flanking region of human MEF gene and identified a TATA-less promoter region at −204/−54 which contains 4 putative binding sites for Sp1, two of which are essential in up-regulating MEF activity. These were proven by EMSA and blocking Sp1 using RNAi or mithramycin A treatment of HEK293 cells. Our results suggest that Sp1 constitutively regulates the MEF gene. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Human β-defensin 2 (HBD2), an antimicrobial peptide, is widely expressed in epithelial tissues and displays a potent killing activity in response to the invasiveness of a wide range of microorganisms and the stimulation of various molecules. Myeloid ELF-1-like factor (MEF) has been reported to be involved in innate immunity responses, such as activation of perforin and lysozyme transcription. The role of MEF in the transcription regulation of HBD2, however, is unknown. Here, we show that MEF not only activated HBD2 promoter activity, but also increased the endogenous HBD2 transcription level. Moreover, the activated HBD2 promoter activity was attenuated by the antisense MEF RNA input and the loss of the ETS binding site (EBS: GGAA core sequence) in the HBD2 promoter. The interaction between the EBS and MEF protein was further confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Thus, our data indicate that MEF may play an important role in regulating HBD2 expression in epithelial cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents a study which found that promoter hypomethylation of Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2) gene is associated with increased proinflammatory response toward bacterial peptidoglycan in cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial cells. Ability of 5-Azacytidine to increase TLR2 expression and demethylation in TLR2 proximal promoter; Factor that downregulates TLR2 expression and modulates PGN response by altering TLR2 promoter methylation; Conclusions and significance of the study.

Abstract Cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) is a cyclic AMP-dependent Cl− channel, and its dysfunction, due to CFTR gene mutations, causes the lethal inherited disorder cystic fibrosis (CF). To date, widespread dysregulation of certain coding genes in CF airway epithelial cells is well studied and considered as the driver of pulmonary abnormality. However, the involvement of non-coding genes, novel classes of functional RNAs with little or no protein-coding capacity, in the regulation of CF-associated gene dysregulation is poorly understood. Here, we utilized integrative analyses of human transcriptome array (HTA) and characterized 99 coding and 91 non-coding RNAs that are dysregulated in CFTR-defective CF bronchial epithelial cell line CFBE41o-. Among these genes, the expression level of linc-SUMF1-2 , an intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA) whose function is unknown, was inversely correlated with that of WT-CFTR and consistently higher in primary human CF airway epithelial cells (DHBE-CF). Further integrative analyses under linc-SUMF1- knockdown condition determined MXRA5 , SEMA5A , CXCL10 , AK022877, CTGF , MYC, AREG and LAMB3 as both CFTR- and linc-SUMF1-2 -dependent dysregulated gene sets in CF airway epithelial cells. Overall, our analyses reveal linc-SUMF1-2 as a dysregulated non-coding gene in CF as well as CFTR- linc-SUMF1-2 axis as a novel regulatory pathway involved in CF-associated gene dysregulation. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Transcriptome analysis using CF patients-derived airway epithelial cells. • Linc-SUMF1-2 is highly up-regulated in CFTR-dysfunctional airway epithelia. • Linc-SUMF1-2 modulates transcriptional level of dysregulated genes in airway epithelial cells under CFTR dysfunctional conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exogenous low-intensity electrical stimulation has been used for treatment of various intractable diseases despite the dearth of information on the molecular underpinnings of its effects. Our work and that of others have demonstrated that applied electrical stimulation at physiological strength or mild electrical stimulation (MES) activates the PI3K-Akt pathway, but whether MES activates other molecules remains unknown. Considering that MES is a form of physiological stress, we hypothesized that it can activate the tumor suppressor p53, which is a key modulator of the cell cycle and apoptosis in response to cell stresses. The potential response of p53 to an applied electrical current of low intensity has not been investigated. Here, we show that p53 was transiently phosphorylated at Ser-15 in epithelial cells treated with an imperceptible voltage (1 V/cm) and a 0.1-ms pulse width. MES-induced p53 phosphorylation was inhibited by pretreatment with a p38 MAPK inhibitor and transfection of dominant-negative mutants of p38, MKK3b, and MKK6b, implying the involvement of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, MES treatment enhanced p53 transcriptional function and increased the expression of p53 target genes p21, BAX, PUMA, NOXA, and IRF9. Importantly, MES treatment triggered G2cell cycle arrest, but not cell apoptosis. MES treatment had no effect on the cell cycle in HCT116 p53-/- cells, suggesting a dependence on p53. These findings identify some molecular targets of electrical stimulation and incorporate the p38-p53 signaling pathway among the transduction pathways that MES affects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is involved in a wide range of pathological conditions including neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, inflammation, and infection. The ability of ER stress to induce an inflammatory response is considered to play a role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. However, its role in regulating the gene expression and function of toll-like receptors (TLRs), host defense receptors that recognize invading pathogens, remains unknown. Here we showed that several well-characterized ER stress inducers (thapsigargin, tunicamycin, and dithiothreitol) increase the expression of TLR2 in epithelial cells. Ligand-responsiveness of TLR2 was also enhanced by ER stress inducers, implying a contributory role of ER stress for the regulation of TLR2-dependent inflammatory responses. Furthermore, there was significant increase of TLR2 mRNA level in the livers of tunicamycin-treated mice and high-fat diet-fed mice, suggesting an impact of ER stress in vivo on the expression of TLR2. Overexpression and knockdown experiments showed the importance of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), an ER stress-induced transcription factor, in the induction of TLR2 expression during ER stress. This was confirmed by the increased expression and function of TLR2 during treatment with salubrinal, an activator of ATF4 pathway. Taken together, our study provides further insights into the role of ER stress in enhancing host bacterial response or in exaggerating the inflammatory condition via up-regulating TLR2 expression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is a heteromultimeric Na+ channel at the apical membrane in the kidney, colon, and lung. Because ENaC plays a crucial role in regulating Na+ absorption and extracellular fluid volume, its dysregulation causes severe phenotypes including hypertension, hypokalemia, and airway obstruction. Despite the importance of ENaC, its protein quality control mechanism remains less established. Here we firstly show the role of calreticulin (CRT), a lectin-like molecular chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), on the regulation of ENaC. Overexpression and knockdown analyses clearly indicated that CRT positively affects the expression of each ENaC subunit (α, β and γ). CRT overexpression also up-regulated the cell surface expression of α-, β- and γ-ENaC. Moreover, we found that CRT directly interacts with each ENaC subunit. Although CRT knockdown did not affect the de novo synthesis of ENaC subunits, CRT overexpression decreased α-, β- and γ-ENaC expression in the detergent (RIPA)-insoluble fraction, suggesting that CRT enhanced the solubility of ENaC subunits. Consistent with the increased intracellular and cell surface expression of ENaC subunits, increased channel activity of ENaC was also observed upon overexpression of CRT. Our study thus identifies CRT as an ER chaperone that regulates ENaC expression and function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lysozyme protects us from the ever-present danger of bacterial infection. The expression of lysozyme is, in part, regulated by the Ets factor, myeloid elf-1-like factor (MEF). MEF binds to the ETS site of the lysozyme promoter at −46 to −40bp. Closer analysis of the promoter using a series of deletion mutants and point mutants indicated that the region around −75bp is also essential in regulating the activity of lysozyme. The sequences in this region correspond to the Sp1 consensus binding site. Sp1 is known to regulate a variety of house-keeping and tissue-specific genes by itself or with other transcription factors like AP-1 or ETS. We indicate here that Sp1 regulates the lysozyme gene by binding to the GT-core sequences of lysozyme promoter. Treatment with mithramycin A down-regulated the promoter activity and the transfection of anti-sense Sp1 induced a decrease in the endogenous expression of lysozyme. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Myeloid elf-1-like factor (MEF) or Elf4, which is a member of the ETS transcription factor family, up-regulates the basal expression of lysozyme gene in epithelial cells and is constitutively localized in the nucleus. The mammalian cell nucleus is organized into distinct nuclear domains or compartments that are essential for diverse physiological processes. Promyelocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear body or nuclear domain 10 is one of the nuclear domains and is involved in tumor suppression and regulation of transcription. Here, we investigate the role of PML nuclear body in MEF transactivation. We show that PML, but not Sp100, induced the accumulation of MEF in PML nuclear bodies and that MEF and PML physically interacted. This interaction stimulated MEF transcriptional activity, resulting in the up-regulation of endogenous lysozyme expression. Amino acids 348–517 of MEF were required for the accumulation of MEF in PML nuclear bodies and up-regulation of lysozyme transcription, which is enhanced by PML. Moreover, the C-terminal region of MEF spanning amino acids 477–517 was the putative region required for interaction between MEF and PML as determined with the use of the mammalian two-hybrid system. In addition, heat-shock treatment induced the accumulation of MEF in endogenous PML nuclear bodies and enhanced MEF transactivation of lysozyme gene. Thus, the recruitment of MEF to PML nuclear bodies may partly regulate lysozyme transcription in epithelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cystic fibrosis is characterized by chronic inflammation that ultimately lead to death from respiratory failure. Overproduction of IL-8, a key chemokine that is crucial for an induction of neutrophil-dominated inflammation, has been considered as one of the important hallmarks of CF airway. Thus, identification of novel pathways underlying IL-8 induction could provide novel drug targets for prevention and treatment of CF. Importantly, recent studies suggest that airway epithelial cells produce IL-17C, an IL-17 member that is produced by epithelial but not Th17 cells, which contributes to production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-8 in an autocrine manner. However, the regulatory mechanism responsible for IL-17C expression in both non-CF and CF airway epithelial cells is still largely unexplored. The present study sought to determine how IL-17C expression is regulated during pathogenic infection in CF airway. Among the tested ligands of toll-like receptors (TLRs) that mimic infection signaling, poly (I:C), a synthetic analog of viral double-stranded RNA that works as a ligand for TLR3, strongly induced IL-17C gene expression and secretion in primary airway epithelial cells derived from non-CF (NHBE) and CF (DHBE-CF) subjects. Maximum induction of IL-17C gene expression and secretion was observed at 24h post-treatment in both cells, and the induction was mainly through NF-kB and partially through MAPKs (ERK, JNK, p38). Importantly, the poly (I:C)-induced IL-17C up-regulation was strongly enhanced in DHBE-CF cells. Moreover, TLR3 expression and poly (I:C)-induced up-regulation of IL-8 and IFNb were also higher in DHBE-CF cells, suggesting that the enhancement of poly (I:C)-dependent IL-17C induction appears to be the result of increased TLR3 expression in CF airway epithelial cells. Thus, these findings firstly provide the idea that poly (I:C) signal is a critical pathway in accelerating IL-17C expression in CF airway, which may imply that the TLR3-IL-17C axis is crucial for exacerbating viral infection-associated inflammation in CF lung disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Development and Characterization of CF Airway Epithelial Cell Lines Complemented with Wild-Type and ΔF508 CFTR cDNA," by Rosalie Maurisse and colleagues is presented.