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// Andreas Zech 1,* , Benjamin Wiesler 1,* , Cemil Korcan Ayata 1 , Tilmann Schlaich 1 , Thorsten Durk 1 , Madelon Hosfeld 1 , Nicolas Ehrat 1 , Sanja Cicko 1 and Marco Idzko 1 1 Department of Pneumology, University Medical Centre Freiburg, Germany * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Marco Idzko, email: // Keywords : asthma, P2RX4, ATP, dendritic cells, IL-1s, Immunology and Microbiology Section, Immune response, Immunity Received : September 30, 2016 Accepted : November 09, 2016 Published : November 15, 2016 Abstract Compelling evidences point out a crucial role for extracellular nucleotides such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) during inflammatory conditions. Once released into the extracellular space, ATP modulates migration, maturation and function of various inflammatory cells via activating of purinergic receptors of the P2Y- and P2X- family. P2RX4 is an ATP-guided ion channel expressed on structural cells such as alveolar epithelial and smooth muscle cells as well as inflammatory cells including macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells. P2RX4 has been shown to interact with P2RX7 and promote NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Although P2RX7 has already been implicated in allergic asthma, the role of P2RX4 in airway inflammation has not been elucidated yet. Therefore, we used a selective pharmacological antagonist and genetic ablation to investigate the role of P2RX4 in an ovalbumin (OVA) driven model of allergen-induced airway inflammation (AAI). Both, P2RX4 antagonist 5-BDBD treatment and P2rx4 deficiency resulted in an alleviated broncho alveolar lavage fluid eosinophilia, peribronchial inflammation, Th2 cytokine production and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Furthermore, P2rx4 -deficient bone marrow derived DCs (BMDCs) showed a reduced IL-1s production in response to ATP accompanied by a decreased P2rx7 expression and attenuated Th2 priming capacity compared to wild type (WT) BMDCs in vitro . Moreover, mice adoptively transferred with P2rx4 -deficient BMDCs exhibit a diminished AAI in vivo . In conclusion our data suggests that P2RX4-signaling contributes to AAI pathogenesis by regulating DC mediated Th2 cell priming via modulating IL-1s secretion and selective P2RX4-antagonists might be a new therapeutic option for allergic asthma.

Background Dendritic cells (DCs) are the professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the lung. They are known to be key players in the induction and maintenance of allergic asthma by cross-linking innate and adaptive immune responses. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to influence cell fate and function by translational suppression or induction of messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation. miR-155 has been shown to be a crucial regulator of the immune system. However, its function in the pathogenesis of allergic airway inflammation (AAI) is not completely elucidated yet. Methods Wild type (WT) and miR-155-deficient (miR-155−/−) mice were used in ovalbumin (OVA) and house dust mite (HDM) models of AAI. Adoptive transfer of sensitized DCs to the lungs, migration, and T-cell priming assays were used to investigate the functional relevance of miR-155 in DCs. Results miR-155−/− mice showed reduced eosinophilic airway inflammation compared to WT mice in both models of AAI. Furthermore, miR-155−/− DCs showed limited Th2 priming capacity and failed to induce airway inflammation in allergen-exposed WT mice. miR-155 deficiency on DCs was also associated with impaired purinergic receptor signaling, as miR-155-/- DCs showed reduced chemotaxis and IL-1beta secretion upon stimulation with ATP, probably due to direct targeting of ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (ENTPD) by miR-155. Conclusions miR-155 deficiency alleviates AAI by diminishing Th2 priming capacity and ATP-/P2R-induced activation of DCs in mice, suggesting this miRNA as a potential therapeutic target of AAI.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threating lung condition resulting from a direct and indirect injury to the lungs [1, 2]. Pathophysiologically it is characterized by an acute alveolar damage, an increased permeability of the microvascular-barrier, leading to protein-rich pulmonary edema and subsequent impairment of arterial oxygenation and respiratory failure [1]. This study examined the role of extracellular ATP in recruiting inflammatory cells to the lung after induction of acute lung injury with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, the precise mechanism is poorly understood. Our objective was to investigate the functional role of the P2X7 receptor in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS/ acute lung injury (ALI)) in vitro and in vivo. We show that intratracheally applied LPS causes an acute accumulation of ATP in the BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage) and lungs of mice. Prophylactic and therapeutic inhibition of P2X7R signalling by a specific antagonist and knock-out experiments was able to ameliorate the inflammatory response demonstrated by reduced ATP-levels, number of neutrophils and concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in the BALF. Experiments with chimeric mice showed that P2X7R expression on immune cells was responsible for the observed effect. Consistently, the inflammatory response is diminished only by a cell-type specific knockdown of P2X7 receptor on non-stationary immune cells. Since the results of BALF from patients with acute ARDS or pneumonia simulated the in vivo data after LPS exposure, the P2X7 receptor may be a new therapeutic target for treatment in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS/ALI).

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease with a poor prognosis and very few available treatment options. The involvement of the purinergic receptor subtypes P2Y2 and P2X7 in fibrotic lung disease has been demonstrated recently. In this study, we investigated the role of P2Y6 receptors in the pathogenesis of IPF in humans and in the animal model of bleomycin-induced lung injury. P2Y6 R expression was upregulated in lung structural cells but not in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells derived from IPF patients as well as in animals following bleomycin administration. Furthermore, BAL fluid levels of the P2Y6 R agonist uridine-5′-diphosphate were elevated in animals with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Inflammation and fibrosis following bleomycin administration were reduced in P2Y6 R-deficient compared to wild-type animals confirming the pathophysiological relevance of P2Y6 R subtypes for fibrotic lung diseases. Experiments with bone marrow chimeras revealed the importance of P2Y6 R expression on lung structural cells for pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Similar effects were obtained when animals were treated with the P2Y6 R antagonist MRS2578. In vitro studies demonstrated that proliferation and secretion of the pro-inflammatory/pro-fibrotic cytokine IL-6 by lung fibroblasts are P2Y6 R-mediated processes. In summary, our results clearly demonstrate the involvement of P2Y6 R subtypes in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Thus, blocking pulmonary P2Y6 receptors might be a new target for the treatment of IPF., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Objective— Nucleotides such as ATP, ADP, UTP, and UDP serve as proinflammatory danger signals via purinergic receptors on their release to the extracellular space by activated or dying cells. UDP binds to the purinergic receptor Y 6 (P2Y 6 ) and propagates vascular inflammation by inducing the expression of chemokines such as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, interleukin-8, or its mouse homologsCCL1 (chemokine [C-C motif] ligand 1)/keratinocyte chemokine, CXCL2 (chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 2)/macrophage inflammatory protein 2, and CXCL5 (chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 5)/LIX, and adhesion molecules such as vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1. Thus, P2Y 6 contributes to leukocyte recruitment and inflammation in conditions such as allergic asthma or sepsis. Because atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease driven by leukocyte recruitment to the vessel wall, we hypothesized a role of P2Y 6 in atherogenesis. Approach and Results— Intraperitoneal stimulation of wild-type mice with UDP induced rolling and adhesion of leukocytes to the vessel wall as assessed by intravital microscopy. This effect was not present in P2Y 6 -deficient mice. Atherosclerotic aortas of low-density lipoprotein receptor–deficient mice consuming high-cholesterol diet for 16 weeks expressed significantly more transcripts and protein of P2Y 6 than respective controls. Finally, P2Y 6 −/− /low-density lipoprotein receptor–deficient mice consuming high-cholesterol diet for 16 weeks developed significantly smaller atherosclerotic lesions compared with P2Y 6 +/+ /low-density lipoprotein receptor–deficient mice. Bone marrow transplantation identified a crucial role of P2Y 6 on vascular resident cells, most likely endothelial cells, on leukocyte recruitment and atherogenesis. Atherosclerotic lesions of P2Y 6 -deficient mice contained fewer macrophages and fewer lipids as determined by immunohistochemistry. Mechanistically, RNA expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and interleukin-6 was decreased in these lesions and P2Y 6 -deficient macrophages took up less modified low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Conclusions— We show for the first time that P2Y 6 deficiency limits atherosclerosis and plaque inflammation in mice.

Background Extracellular Adenosine-5′-Triphosphate (ATP) is known to accumulate in the lung, following allergen challenge, and contributes via activation of purinergic receptors on dendritic cells (DC), to the development of allergic airway inflammation (AAI). Extracellular ATP levels in the airways are normally tightly regulated by CD39. This ectonucleotidase is highly expressed by DC purified from skin (Langerhans cells) and bone marrow, and has been shown to modulate DC adaptive/haptenic immune responses. In this study, we have evaluated the impact of Cd39 deletion and associated perturbation of purinergic signaling in AAI. Methods Standard ovalbumin (OVA)–alum and house dust mite (HDM) bone marrow-derived DC (BMDC)-dependent models of AAI were used to study effects of Cd39. Migration assays, time lapse microscopy, and T-cell priming assays were further used to determine functional relevance of Cd39 expression on BMDC in the setting of immune and Th2-mediated responses in these models. Results Cd39−/− mice exhibited marked increases in BALF ATP levels but paradoxically exhibited limited AAI in both OVA–alum and HDM models. These pathophysiological abnormalities were associated with decreased myeloid DC activation and chemotaxis toward ATP, and were linked to purinergic receptor desensitization responses. Further, Cd39−/− DCs exhibited limited capacity to both prime Th2 responses and form stable immune synaptic interactions with OVA-transgenic naive T cells. Conclusions Cd39-deficient DCs exhibit limited capacity to induce Th2 immunity in a DC-driven model of AAI in vivo. Our data demonstrate a role of CD39 and perturbed purinergic signaling in models of AAI.

Immunoglobulin (Ig) isotype diversification by class switch recombination (CSR) is an essential process for mounting a protective humoral immune response. Ig CSR deficiencies in humans can result from an intrinsic B cell defect; however, most of these deficiencies are still molecularly undefined and diagnosed as common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). Here, we show that extracellular adenosine critically contributes to CSR in human naive and IgM memory B cells. In these cells, coordinate stimulation of B cell receptor and toll-like receptors results in the release of ATP stored in Ca2+-sensitive secretory vesicles. Plasma membrane ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 CD39 and ecto-5′-nucleotidase CD73 hydrolyze ATP to adenosine, which induces CSR in B cells in an autonomous fashion. Notably, CVID patients with impaired class-switched antibody responses are selectively deficient in CD73 expression in B cells, suggesting that CD73-dependent adenosine generation contributes to the pathogenesis of this disease.

This study examined the role of extracellular ATP in recruiting inflammatory cells to the lung after induction of acute lung injury (ALI) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Extracellular ATP serves as a danger signal to alert the immune system of tissue damage by acting on P2X or P2Y receptors. However, the precise mechanism is poorly understood. Our objective was to investigate the functional role of P2X7 receptor in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) in vivo. Here we show that inhalative LPS cause an acute accumulation of ATP in the airways of mice. Purinergic receptor antagonists have been used in both therapeutic and prophylactic models and leaded reduction in the ATP-Level and the total cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage (BALF). A succession of experiment with P2X7R-/- and WT chimera animals revealed that the hematopoetic system plays a pivatol role in the observed effect. Finally, we elucidated the contribution of different cell-type specific knockdown of P2X7 receptor, such as LysMCre (macrophages/neutrophils) P2X7fl, CCTCre P2X7fl (conducting airway epithelia), CD4Cre P2X7fl (lymphocytes), SPCTetoCre P2X7fl (airway-epithelial cells), in the pathogenesis of ALI. This decision of P2X7 Receptor may be a new therapeutic target for a treatment in acute lung injury (ALI). Key words: acute lung inflammation, P2X7, KN62, cell-type-specific knockdown of P2X7, BAL, ATP.

International audience; Currently very little is known about the differential expression and function of the transcription factor SOX5 during B cell maturation. We identified two new splice variants of SOX5 in human B cells, encoding the known L-SOX5B isoform and a new shorter isoform L-SOX5F. The SOX5 transcripts are highly expressed during late stages of B-cell differentiation, including atypical memory B cells, activated CD21low B cells and germinal center B cells of tonsils. In tonsillar sections SOX5 expression was predominantly polarized to centrocytes within the light zone. After in vitro stimulation, SOX5 expression was down-regulated during proliferation while high expression levels were permissible for plasmablast differentiation. Overexpression of L-SOX5F in human primary B lymphocytes resulted in reduced proliferation, less survival of CD138neg B cells, but comparable numbers of CD138+CD38hi plasmablasts compared to control cells. Thus, our findings describe for the first time a functional role of SOX5 during late B cell development reducing the proliferative capacity and thus potentially affecting the differentiation of B cells during the germinal center response.

Sphingolipids are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. The central molecule is ceramide, which can be converted into ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P). Although C1P can exert anti- and pro-inflammatory effects, its influence on cigarette smoke (CS)-induced lung inflammation is unknown. We aimed to clarify the role of C1P in the pathogenesis of CS-triggered pulmonary inflammation and emphysema in humans and mice.The effects of C1P were addressed on CS-induced lung inflammation in C57BL/6 mice, CS extract-triggered activation of human airway epithelial cells (AECs) and neutrophils from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Differential cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined by flow cytometry and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA. Expression and DNA binding of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase) were quantified by PCR, electrophoretic mobility shift and fluorometric assays.C1P reduced CS-induced acute and chronic lung inflammation and development of emphysema in mice, which was associated with a reduction in nSMase and NF-κB activity in the lungs. nSMase activity in human serum correlated negatively with forced expiratory volume in 1 s % predicted. In human AECs and neutrophils, C1P inhibited CS-induced activation of NF-κB and nSMase, and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine release.Our results suggest that C1P is a potential target for anti-inflammatory treatment in CS-induced lung inflammation.

Cell Communication and Signaling 12, 40 (2014). doi:10.1186/s12964-014-0040-3, Published by Biomed Central, London

During progression of liver disease, inflammation affects survival of hepatocytes. Endogenous release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the liver activates purinergic P2 receptors (P2R), which regulate inflammatory responses, but little is known about the roles of these processes in the development of acute hepatitis.We induced acute hepatitis in C57BL/6 mice by intravenous injection of concanavalin A and then analyzed liver concentrations of ATP and expression of P2R. We assessed P2Y(2)R(-/-) mice and C57BL/6 wild-type mice injected with suramin, a pharmacologic inhibitor of P2YR. Toxic liver failure was induced in mice by intraperitoneal injection of acetaminophen. Hepatocyte-specific functions of P2R signaling were analyzed in primary mouse hepatocytes.Induction of acute hepatitis in wild-type C57BL/6 mice released large amounts of ATP from livers and induced expression of P2Y(2)R. Liver damage and necrosis were greatly reduced in P2Y(2)R(-/-) mice and C57BL/6 mice given injections of suramin. Acetaminophen-induced liver damage was reduced in P2Y(2)R(-/-) mice. Analysis of liver-infiltrating immune cells during acute hepatitis revealed that expression of P2Y(2)R in bone marrow-derived cells was required for liver infiltration by neutrophils and subsequent liver damage. Hepatic expression of P2Y(2)R interfered with expression of genes that regulate cell survival, and promoted tumor necrosis factor-α-mediated cell death, in a cell-autonomous manner.Extracellular ATP and P2Y(2)R have cell-type specific, but synergistic functions during liver damage that regulate cellular immune responses and promote hepatocyte death. Reagents designed to target P2Y(2)R might be developed to treat inflammatory liver disease.

Background & Aims During progression of liver disease, inflammation affects survival of hepatocytes. Endogenous release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the liver activates purinergic P2 receptors (P2R), which regulate inflammatory responses, but little is known about the roles of these processes in the development of acute hepatitis. Methods We induced acute hepatitis in C57BL/6 mice by intravenous injection of concanavalin A and then analyzed liver concentrations of ATP and expression of P2R. We assessed P2Y 2 R −/− mice and C57BL/6 wild-type mice injected with suramin, a pharmacologic inhibitor of P2YR. Toxic liver failure was induced in mice by intraperitoneal injection of acetaminophen. Hepatocyte-specific functions of P2R signaling were analyzed in primary mouse hepatocytes. Results Induction of acute hepatitis in wild-type C57BL/6 mice released large amounts of ATP from livers and induced expression of P2Y 2 R. Liver damage and necrosis were greatly reduced in P2Y 2 R −/− mice and C57BL/6 mice given injections of suramin. Acetaminophen-induced liver damage was reduced in P2Y 2 R −/− mice. Analysis of liver-infiltrating immune cells during acute hepatitis revealed that expression of P2Y 2 R in bone marrow−derived cells was required for liver infiltration by neutrophils and subsequent liver damage. Hepatic expression of P2Y 2 R interfered with expression of genes that regulate cell survival, and promoted tumor necrosis factor−α-mediated cell death, in a cell-autonomous manner. Conclusions Extracellular ATP and P2Y 2 R have cell-type specific, but synergistic functions during liver damage that regulate cellular immune responses and promote hepatocyte death. Reagents designed to target P2Y 2 R might be developed to treat inflammatory liver disease.

Background Bronchial smooth muscle cells (BSMCs) from severe asthmatics have been shown to overexpress the Th2-driving and asthma-associated cytokine IL-33. However, little is known regarding factors involved in BSMC production of IL-33. Rhinovirus (RV) infections cause asthma exacerbations, which exhibit features of Th2-type inflammation. Here, we investigated the effects of epithelial-derived media and viral stimuli on IL-33 expression in human BSMCs. Methods Primary human BSMCs from healthy (n = 3) and asthmatic (n = 3) subjects were stimulated with conditioned media from primary human bronchial epithelial cells (BECs), double-stranded (ds)RNA, dsRNA/LyoVec, or infected with RV. BSMCs were also pretreated with the purinergic receptor antagonist suramin. IL-33 expression was analysed by RT-qPCR and western blot and ATP levels were determined in cell supernatants. Results RV infection and activation of TLR3 by dsRNA increased IL-33 mRNA and protein in healthy and asthmatic BSMCs. These effects were inhibited by dexamethasone. BSMC expression of IL-33 was also increased by stimulation of RIG-I-like receptors using dsRNA/LyoVec. Conditioned media from BECs induced BSMC expression of IL-33, which was further enhanced by dsRNA. BEC-derived medium and viral-stimulated BSMC supernatants exhibited elevated ATP levels. Blocking of purinergic signalling with suramin inhibited BSMC expression of IL-33 induced by dsRNA and BEC-derived medium. Conclusions RV infection of BSMCs and activation of TLR3 and RIG-I-like receptors cause expression and production of IL-33. Epithelial-released factor(s) increase BSMC expression of IL-33 and exhibit positive interaction with dsRNA. Increased BSMC IL-33 associates with ATP release and is antagonised by suramin. We suggest that epithelial-derived factors contribute to baseline BSMC IL-33 production, which is further augmented by RV infection of BSMCs and stimulation of their pathogen-recognising receptors.