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Angiogenesis and inflammation are regarded as important factors in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation, cancer, and wound healing. Recent studies have supported prior evidence that common signaling pathways are involved in angiogenesis and inflammatory responses; however, key factors controlling both processes remain unclear. Although tripartite motif-containing (TRIM)-28 is known to have an immunosuppressive role in immune cells, its expression level and role in endothelial cells (ECs) are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of TRIM28 in inflammatory responses and angiogenic activity of ECs for the first time. We showed that TRIM28 is the most abundant TRIM family member and is localized in nuclei of ECs. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of TRIM28 strikingly suppressed expression of TNF receptor (TNFR)-1 and -2, decreased TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of IKKα/β and IκBα and degradation of IκBα and nuclear translocation of p65, and suppressed basal level and TNF-α-induced expression of chemokines and adhesion molecules, including VCAM-1, IL-6, ICAM-1, E-selectin, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1. Unexpectedly, IL-8 was potentiated by TRIM28 knockdown in ECs in an NF-κB-inducing kinase-dependent manner. Meanwhile, knockdown of TRIM28 inhibited expression of VEGF receptor 2 and suppressed VEGF-induced proliferation and tube formation by ECs. Finally, knockdown of TRIM28 suppressed recruitment of ECs in vivo in a murine synthetic basement membrane model. In summary, we found that TRIM28 acts as a central factor in controlling endothelial inflammatory responses and angiogenic activities by retaining expression of TNFR-1 and -2 and VEGF receptor 2 in ECs.-Wang, Y., Li, J., Huang Y., Dai, X., Liu, Y., Liu, Z., Wang, Y., Wang, N., Zhang, P. Tripartite motif-containing 28 bridges endothelial inflammation and angiogenic activity by retaining expression of TNFR1 and -2 and VEGFR2 in endothelial cells.

Background Endothelial cell activation is thought to be a key event in atherosclerosis. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) plays an important role in regulating pro-inflammatory cytokine production in endothelial cells (ECs), however, how p38 MAPK is controlled in EC activation remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of mitochondrial tumor suppressor 1 (MTUS1) on p38 MAPK activation, cytokine induction and the underlying molecular mechanisms in ECs. Methods and results Using qPCR and ELISA methods, we found that knockdown of MTUS1 led to a marked increase in the mRNA and protein expression of E-selectin (SELE) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in ECs, which is accompanied with increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK (Thr180/Tyr182), MKK3/6 (Ser 189) and IκBα (Ser 32). Using luciferase reporter assay, we found that MTUS1 silencing also activated NF-κB transcriptional activity. The inhibition of p38 MAPK and NF-κB pathway was shown to abrogate MTUS1 silencing-induced cytokine expression in ECs. Furthermore, MTUS1 silencing induced p38 MAPK-dependent ubiquitination of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) which potentiated CREB-binding protein-mediated NF-κB p65 acetylation and binding to the promoter of the SELE gene. Conversely, adenovirus-mediated overexpression of MTUS1 inhibited p38 MAPK activation in ECs in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, decreased expression of MTUS1 and CREB, accompanied with induced activation of p38 MAPK were observed in aortas of apoE −/− mice after high-fat diet challenge. Conclusions Our findings showed that MTUS1 regulates the p38 MAPK-mediated cytokine production in ECs. MTUS1 gene probably plays a protective role against pro-inflammatory response of ECs.

Renal pathological changes in cirrhotic rat have not been extensively reported. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Xiayuxue decoction (XYXD) could attenuate renal injury induced by bile duct ligation (BDL), with special focus on the mechanisms promoting renal macrophage apoptosis. The rats were treated with BDL for 5 weeks and administered 0.36 g/kg XYXD intragastrically from day 1 of initiating BDL. Renal tissue was monitored by hematoxylin-eosin and Sirius red staining. Macrophage infiltration and proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor and chemokine ligand 2 were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Macrophage apoptosis was detected by double immunofluorescence staining. Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and glomerulus diameter increased significantly after a 5-week BDL treatment in XYXD (BDL-XYXD) rats. CD68 and pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA increased in the kidneys of control (BDL-water) rats. Fluorescence microscopy analysis showed that XYXD promoted apoptosis in renal CD68+ macrophages. Collogen1 (Col 1), pro-fibrogenic cytokines, and α-smooth muscle actin in kidneys of BDL-water rats increased significantly compared to the sham group. XYXD inhibited Col 1 and pro-fibrotic factors in BDL-XYXD rats. Our results demonstrated that XYXD significantly reduced renal injury by, at least in part, promoting macrophage apoptosis in rats with damaged renal histopathology due to BDL-induced cirrhosis.

Background Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is activated mainly by endotoxin and transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) in chronic liver injury, consequently, can be important therapeutic targets. Xia-yu-xue decoction (XYXD), a classical recipe used in China to treat liver fibrosis, and has been revealed to inhibit hepatic fibrosis in animal models, the mechanism of action of XYXD remains elusive. In the present study, we evaluated whether XYXD reduced endotoxin and pro-fibrogenic pathways induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and TGF-β1 in HSCs. Methods The in vivo effect of XYXD on fibrosis progression was assessed in mice model induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), The in vitro effect of XYXD on mice GFP-Col-HSC cells was evaluated using LPS and TGF-β1 stimulation. Results XYXD treatment reduced CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and decreased hepatic hydroxyproline (Hyp) content, the mRNA levels of smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Col 1(α1) in fibrotic liver. XYXD suppressed nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation induced by LPS and TGF-β1 assessed by using NF-κB-luciferase reporter. The expression of NF-κB target genes, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 (CXCL2) induced by LPS was suppressed after XYXD treatment. The expression of TGF-β1 targets genes, Col1(α1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP1) induced by TGF-β1 was inhibit after XYXD treatment. Conclusion XYXD treatment attenuates liver fibrosis by inhibiting HSC activation via inhibition of NF-κB and TGF-β1 signaling pathway, thereby blocking the synthesis of Col1 (α1) and TIMP-1. These findings from present study suggest that XYXD may be a therapeutic decoction for liver fibrosis in which NF-κB and TGF-β1 are thought to take part.

Background It is well established that macrophage infiltration is involved in concanavalin A (conA)-induced liver injury. However, the role of macrophages in conA-induced renal injury remains unknown. The aims of this study were to investigate macrophage infiltration in conA-induced renal injury and determine whether paeoniflorin (PF) could inhibit macrophage infiltration into the kidney. Methods BALB/C mice were pre-treated with or without PF 2 h (h) before conA injection. At 8 h after con A injection, all the mice were sacrificed; The liver and kidney histology were studied. The renal CD68 expression was detected by immunohistochemical and real-time PCR analysis. The level of expression of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 3 (CXCR3) was analyzed by western blot, immunohistochemical and real-time PCR. The pathophysiological involvement of CXCR3 in macrophage infiltration were investigated using dual-colour immunofluorescence microscopy. Results PF administration significantly reduced the elevated serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and the severity of liver and renal damage compared with that in the conA-vehicle group. PF administration inhibited the increase in renal IL1β mRNA expression and concentration. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis showed that macrophages secreted CXCR3 in the kidneys of the conA-vehicle mice. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated CXCR3 bound tightly to C-X-C motif ligand 11 (CXCL11) in the kidneys of the conA-vehicle mice and showed that PF treatment could suppress CXCR3/CXCL11 over-activation. Conclusions Macrophage infiltration was a notable pathological change in the kidneys of conA-treated mice. PF administration attenuated conA-induced renal damage, at least in part, by inhibiting the over-activated CXCR3/CXCL11 signal axis.