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There has been limited research into the role of the Pythium insidiosum antigen (PIA) in modulating immune response in patients with pythiosis. This study investigated the balance of T helper type 2 (Th2) and T helper type 1 (Th1) responses after receiving PIA immunotherapy in patients with pythiosis. Next, the phagocytic activity and phagocytic index of IFN-γ primed PIA-treated macrophages were examined. Furthermore, the phagocytosis of infective P. insidiosum zoospores by macrophages was investigated. This work showed that the PIA vaccine induced Th1 response and M1 macrophages in patients with vascular pythiosis who survived and those with localized pythiosis. Phagocytic activity and phagocytic index were increased considerably in localized pythiosis patients compared to vascular pythiosis patients with hematological diseases. IFN-γ priming of PIA-treated macrophages against P. insidiosum zoospores enhanced the phagocytic activity and phagocytic index in vascular and localized pythiosis patients. Macrophages engulfed P. insidiosum zoospores, but the zoospores continued germination, resulting in macrophage death. Overall, our results suggest that PIA can modulate the immune responses, contributing to higher levels of Th1-type cytokine and potentially improving the survival of patients with vascular pythiosis. This study is the first to uncover that P. insidiosum zoospores can survive within macrophages., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Notch signaling regulates the responses of macrophages to different stimuli in a context-dependent manner. The roles of Notch signaling in proinflammatory macrophages are well characterized, whereas its involvement, if any, in IL-4-stimulated macrophages (M(IL-4)) is still unclear. We observed that Notch signaling is functional in human M(IL-4). We performed transcriptome analysis of the Notch1 intracellular domain (NIC1)-overexpressing human monocytic cell line THP-1 with or without IL-4 stimulation to understand the global impact of Notch signaling in M(IL-4). The results revealed that NIC1-overexpressing THP-1 upregulated proinflammatory-associated genes and target genes of IL-4 signaling. We identified serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) as one of the genes increased by NIC1 overexpression in M(IL-4). To dissect the signaling pathway leading to SGK1 upregulation, we pretreated THP-1-derived macrophages with specific inhibitors of Notch (DAPT), AKT (LY294002) or ERK (U0126). Among these inhibitors, only LY294002 decreased the SGK1 mRNA levels in M(IL-4), indicating that the AKT pathway plays a key role in SGK1 transcription in M(IL-4). Furthermore, treatment of THP-1-derived macrophages with the SGK1 inhibitor (GSK650394) suppressed AKT phosphorylation, but not STAT6, in response to IL-4, indicating that SGK1 positively regulates AKT pathway in M(IL-4). Finally, GSK650394 treatment of human M(IL-4) increased the levels of PPARG mRNA and its protein, indicating a negative role of SGK1 in M(IL-4) function. Overall, we report that the Notch signaling and AKT pathways cooperatively regulate SGK1 expression in M(IL-4) where SGK1, in turn, plays an important role in suppressing IL-4-induced PPAR γ expression., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Auricularia polytricha (AP), an edible mushroom, is continuously being studied due to the medicinal properties. In this study, AP crude extracts from three sequential extraction, starting from hexane (APH), ethanol (APE) and water (APW), were examined for their anti-inflammatory activity and lipid accumulation property in macrophages. APE treatment was found to increase lipid droplet accumulation in both RAW264.7 and LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, nitric oxide production upon LPS stimulation was suppressed on APE pre-treatment. LC-MS analysis was performed to identify the potential bioactive compounds in APE. The PPARγ agonist, 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2-2-glycerol ester (15d-PGJ2-G), was uniquely presented in APE, which was previously described to bind with PPARγ and induces lipid uptake via the upregulation of Cd36 . We found that pre-treatment with APE also showed an increase in Cd36 mRNA in RAW264.7 cells, indicating that 15d-PGJ2-G is the potential active compound found in AP. In conclusion, APE exhibited the induction of lipid uptake via CD36, resulting in lipid accumulation.

This study aimed to develop new organic/inorganic nanohybrids of targeted pullulan derivative/gold nanoparticles (FA-PABA-Q188-PUL@AuNPs) to improve the selectivity and efficacy of drugs. The chemical structure of targeted pullulan derivative, folic acid-decorated para-aminobenzoic acid-quat188-pullulan (FA-PABA-Q188-PUL), was designed for reducing, stabilizing, capping, and functionalizing AuNPs. Here, the key factors, including pH, temperature, and FA-PABA-Q188-PUL concentrations, were systematically optimized to control the morphology, size, and functionalization of multifunctional FA-PABA-Q188-PUL@AuNPs. Spherical FA-PABA-Q188-PUL@AuNPs obtained by a green, simple, and bio-inspired strategy under the optimum conditions were thoroughly characterized and had an average size of 12.6 ± 1.5 nm. The anticancer drug DOX was successfully loaded on monodispersed FA-PABA-Q188-PUL@AuNPs and the system exhibited excellent intracellular uptake, specificity, and physicochemical properties. The pH-responsive DOX release from FA-PABA-Q188-PUL@AuNPs-DOX showed fast release (85% after 72 h) under acidic conditions. Furthermore, FA-PABA-Q188-PUL@AuNPs-DOX enhanced the anticancer activity of DOX toward Chago-k1 cancer cells up to 4.8-fold and showed less cytotoxicity toward normal cells than free DOX. The FA-PABA-Q188-PUL@AuNPs-DOX induced the death of cells by increasing late apoptotic cells (26.4%) and arresting the cell cycle at S-G2/M phases. These results showed that innovative FA-PABA-Q188-PUL@AuNPs should be considered as new candidate platforms for anticancer drug delivery systems., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Notch signaling and nuclear receptor PPARγ are involved in macrophage polarization, but cross talk between them has not been reported in macrophages. In this study, the effect of Notch signaling on PPARγ in IL-4-stimulated human macrophages (M(IL-4)) was investigated using THP-1-derived macrophages and human monocyte-derived macrophages as models. Human M(IL-4) increased the expression of JAGGED1 and activated Notch signaling. Overexpression of Notch1 intracellular domain (NIC1) increased PPARγ expression, while inhibiting Notch signaling decreased PPARγ levels in M(IL-4). NIC1 overexpression in THP-1-derived macrophages increased PPARγ protein stability by delaying its proteasome-mediated degradation, but did not affect its mRNA. Phosphorylation of AKT was enhanced in NIC1-overexpressing cells, and a specific AKT inhibitor reduced the level of PPARγ. NIC1-overexpressing THP-1 cells exhibited increased CD36 levels via activation of PPARγ, resulting in enhanced intracellular lipid accumulation. In summary, this study provides evidence linking Notch signaling and PPARγ via AKT in M(IL-4)., (© 2020 The Authors. Published by FEBS Press and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) have several biochemical advantageous properties especially for a candidate of drug carrier. However, the non-conjugated AuNP has a higher rate of cellular uptake than the conjugated ones. Spherical AuNP in a proper size (20-30 nm) is non-toxic to mice and shows anti-inflammatory properties. We tested if the administration of AuNP, as an adjuvant to antibiotics, could attenuate bacterial sepsis in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) mouse model with antibiotic (imipenem/cilastatin)., Results: Indeed, AuNP administration at the time of CLP improved the survival, blood bacterial burdens, kidney function, liver injury and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and IL-10). AuNP also decreased M1 macrophages (CD86 + ve in F4/80 + ve cells) and increased M2 macrophages (CD206 + ve in F4/80 + ve cells) in the spleens of sepsis mice. The weak antibiotic effect of AuNP was demonstrated as the reduction of E. coli colony after 4 h incubation. In addition, AuNP altered cytokine production of bone-marrow-derived macrophages including reduced TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β but increased IL-10 at 6 and 24 h. Moreover, AuNP induced macrophage polarization toward anti-inflammatory responses (M2) as presented by increased Arg1 (Arginase 1) and PPARγ with decreased Nos2 (inducible nitric oxide synthase, iNos) and Nur77 at 3 h after incubation in vitro., Conclusions: The adjuvant therapy of AuNP, with a proper antibiotic, attenuated CLP-induced bacterial sepsis in mice, at least in part, through the antibiotic effect and the induction of macrophage function toward the anti-inflammatory responses.

Although computer simulation and cell culture experiments have shown that elongated spherical particles can be taken up into cells more efficiently than spherical particles, experimental investigation on effects of these different shapes over the particle-membrane association has never been reported. Therefore, whether the higher cellular uptake of an elongated spherical particles is a result of a better particle-membrane association as suggested by some calculation works or a consequence of its influence on other cellular trans-membrane components involved in particle translocation process, cannot be concluded. Here, we study the effect of particle shape on the particle-membrane interaction by monitoring the association between particles of various shapes and lipid bilayer membrane of artificial cell-sized liposomes. Among the three shaped lanthanide-doped NaYF4 particles, all with high shape purity and uniformity, similar crystal phase, and surface chemistry, the elongated spherical particle shows the highest level of membrane association, followed by the spherical particle with a similar radius, and the hexagonal prism-shaped particle, respectively. The free energy of membrane curvature calculated based on a membrane indentation induced by a particle association indicates that among the three particle shapes, the elongated spherical particle give the most stable membrane curvature. The elongated spherical particles show the highest cellular uptake into cytosol of human melanoma (A-375) and human liver carcinoma (HepG2) cells when observed through a confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscope. Quantitative study using flow cytometry also gives the same result. The elongated spherical particles also possess the highest cytotoxicity in A-375 and normal skin (WI-38) cell lines, comparing to the other two shaped particles.

A great challenge exists in finding safe, simple, and effective delivery strategies to bring matters across cell membrane. Popular methods such as viral vectors, positively charged particles and cell penetrating peptides possess some of the following drawbacks: safety issues, lysosome trapping, limited loading capacity, and toxicity, whereas electroporation produces severe damages on both cargoes and cells. Here, we show that a serendipitously discovered, relatively nontoxic, water dispersible, stable, negatively charged, oxidized carbon nanoparticle, prepared from graphite, could deliver macromolecules into cells, without getting trapped in a lysosome. The ability of the particles to induce transient pores on lipid bilayer membranes of cell-sized liposomes was demonstrated. Delivering 12-base-long pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acids with d-prolyl-(1S,2S)-2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid backbone (acpcPNA) complementary to the antisense strand of the NF-κB binding site in the promoter region of the Il6 gene into the macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, by our particles resulted in an obvious accumulation of the acpcPNAs in the nucleus and decreased Il6 mRNA and IL-6 protein levels upon stimulation. We anticipate this work to be a starting point in a new drug delivery strategy, which involves the nanoparticle that can induce a transient pore on the lipid bilayer membrane.

Macrophages play critical roles in innate immune defense by sensing microbes using pattern-recognition receptors. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates macrophages via TLR, which leads to activation of downstream signaling cascades. In this study, we investigated the roles of a conserved signaling pathway, Notch signaling, in regulating the downstream signaling cascades of the LPS/TLR4 pathways in macrophages. Using a phospho-proteomic approach and a gamma-secretase inhibitor (GSI) to suppress the processing and activation of Notch signaling, we identified regulator of G protein signaling 19 (RGS19) as a target protein whose phosphorylation was affected by GSI treatment. RGS19 is a guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase)-activating protein that functions to negatively regulate G protein-coupled receptors via Gαi/Gαq-linked signaling. Stimulation of RAW264.7 cells with LPS increased the level of the phosphorylated form of RGS19, while LPS stimulation in the presence of GSI decreased its level. GSI treatment did not alter the mRNA level of rgs19. Treatment with GSI or silencing of rgs19 in macrophages impaired the phosphorylation of Akt Thr(308) upon LPS stimulation. Furthermore, targeted deletion of a DNA-binding protein and binding partner of the Notch receptor, RBP-Jκ/CSL, in macrophages resulted in delayed and decreased Akt phosphorylation. Because the PI3K/Akt pathway regulates cell survival in various cell types, the cell cycle and cell death were assayed upon GSI treatment, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor treatment or silencing of rgs19. GSI treatment resulted in decreased cell populations in the G1 and S phases, while it increased the cell population of cell death. Similarly, silencing of rgs19 resulted in a decreased cell population in the G1 phase and an increased cell population in the subG1 phase. Inhibition of Akt phosphorylation by PI3K inhibitor in LPS-stimulated macrophages increased cell population in G1 phase, suggesting a possible cell cycle arrest. Taken together, these results indicate that Notch signaling positively regulates phosphorylation of Akt, possibly via phosphorylation of RGS19, and inhibition of both molecules affects the cell survival and cell cycle of macrophages upon LPS stimulation., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

A new series of anthracene-9, 10-dione derivatives have been synthesized to increase cytotoxic activity against human papillomavirus (HPV) positive cancer cell line, CaSki. The highest cytotoxicity was achieved by 4-(benzylamino)-9,10-dioxo-4a,9,9a,10-tetrahydroanthracen-1-yl 4-ethylbenzenesulfonate (5) with the inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) of 0.3 μM which is 20 times lower than that of cisplatin (CDDP; IC50 = 8.0 μM). The toxicity against non-cancerous cell line, WI-38, was low with the IC50 > 10 μM. Treatment with this compound resulted in decreasing HPV E6 expression. Furthermore, increasing p53 and decreasing Bcl-2 expression were noted. Cell cycle profiles revealed an accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Macrophages are cellular targets for infection by bacteria and viruses. The fate of infected macrophages plays a key role in determining the outcome of the host immune response. Apoptotic cell death of macrophages is considered to be a protective host defense that eliminates pathogens and infected cells. In this study, we investigated the involvement of Notch signaling in regulating apoptosis in macrophages treated with tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD). Murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) treated with PPD or infected with Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) induced upregulation of Notch1. This upregulation correlated well with the upregulation of the anti-apoptotic gene mcl-1 both at the transcriptional and translational levels. Decreased levels of Notch1 and Mcl-1 were observed in BMM treated with PPD when a gamma secretase inhibitor (GSI), which inhibits the processing of Notch receptors, was used. Moreover, silencing Notch1 in the macrophage-like cell line RAW264.7 decreased Mcl-1 protein expression, suggesting that Notch1 is critical for Mcl-1 expression in macrophages. A significant increase in apoptotic cells was observed upon treatment of BMM with PPD in the presence of GSI compared to the vehicle-control treated cells. Finally, analysis of the mcl-1 promoter in humans and mice revealed a conserved potential CSL/RBP-Jκ binding site. The association of Notch1 with the mcl-1 promoter was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Taken together, these results indicate that Notch1 inhibits apoptosis of macrophages stimulated with PPD by directly controlling the mcl-1 promoter.

Macrophages play an important role both in innate and adaptive immune responses. Treatment with interferon (IFN) γ together with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activates pro-inflammatory macrophages which secrete various pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-12. IL-12 promotes a Th1 type immune response by directly controlling the differentiation of CD4(+) T helper 1 cells. Activation of Notch signaling pathway was reported in activated macrophages but the involvement of this signaling pathway in IL-12 expression has not been documented. In this study, we investigated the role of Notch signaling in regulating expression of the IL-12/IL-23 subunit, IL-12p40. Using a gamma-secretase inhibitor (GSI) to inhibit Notch signaling, we observed a profound decrease in il12p40 mRNA levels and IL-12p70 secretion upon IFNγ/LPS stimulation. On the other hand, overexpression of activated form of Notch1 in activated RAW264.7 macrophage-like cell lines significantly increased the level of il12p40 mRNA. GSI treatment did not affect the expression of irf5, a master regulator of il12p40 transcription in macrophages. Detailed analysis of the signaling cascades that were affected by this inhibition showed that c-Rel nuclear translocation was inhibited and Erk1/2 activation was compromised by GSI treatment. Addition of exogenous tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α only partially rescued the expression of il12p40 in the presence of GSI. Unexpectedly, inhibition of Notch signaling using a dominant negative (DN) Mastermind-like (MAML) transcription co-activator, did not affect c-Rel nuclear localization upon activation or il12p40 mRNA levels, suggesting that the transcriptional activity of Notch signaling is dispensable for the activation of c-Rel. These results strongly suggest that Notch signaling in activated macrophages is involved in regulating the expression of il12p40 directly via c-Rel and indirectly via TNFα production., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Notch signaling pathway plays important roles in tumorigenesis in a context-dependent manner. In human cervical cancer, alterations in Notch signaling have been reported, and both tumor-suppressing and tumor-promoting roles of Notch signaling have been proposed; however, the precise molecular mechanisms governing these roles in cervical cancer remain controversial. MAML is a transcriptional co-activator originally identified by its role in Notch signaling. Recent evidence suggests that it also plays a role in other signaling pathways, such as the p53 and β-catenin pathways. MAML is required for stable formation of Notch transcriptional complexes at the promoters of Notch target genes. Chromosomal translocations affecting MAML have been shown to promote tumorigenesis. In this study, we used a truncated dominant-negative MAML1 (DN-MAML) to investigate the role of MAML in HPV-positive cervical cancer cell lines. Three human cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa, SiHa and CaSki) expressed all Notch receptors and the Notch target genes Hes1 and MAML1. Among these 3 cell lines, constitutive appearance of cleaved Notch1 was found only in CaSki cells, which suggests that Notch1 is constitutively activated in this cell line. Gamma secretase inhibitor (GSI) treatment, which suppresses Notch receptor activation, completely abrogated this form of Notch1 but had no effect on cell viability. Overexpression of DN-MAML by retroviral transduction in CaSki cells resulted in significant decreases in the mRNA levels of Hes1 and Notch1 but had no effects on the levels of MAML1, p53 or HPV E6/E7. DN-MAML expression induced increased viability of CaSki cells without any effect on cell cycle progression or cell proliferation. In addition, clonogenic assay experiments revealed that overexpression of DN-MAML resulted in increased colony formation compared to the overexpression of the control vector. When the status of the NF-κB pathway was investigated, CaSki cells overexpressing DN-MAML exhibited loss of phospho-IκBα, decreased total IκBα and nuclear localization of NF-κB p65, which suggests that the NF-κB pathway is hyperactivated. Furthermore, increased level of cleaved Notch1 was detected when DN-MAML was expressed. When DN-MAML-overexpressing cells were treated with GSI, significantly decreased cell viability was observed, indicating that inhibition of Notch signaling using GSI treatment and DN-MAML expression negatively affects cell viability. Taken together, targeting Notch signaling using DN-MAML and GSI treatment may present a novel method to control cell viability in cervical cancer cells., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)