Publications by authors named "Jonathan Axelrod"

24 Publications

  • Page 1 of 1

Hepatic Inflammation Confers Protective Immunity Against Liver Stages of Malaria Parasite.

Authors:
Morgane Grand Mishelle Waqasi Claudia Demarta-Gatsi Yu Wei Roger Peronet Pierre-Henri Commere Amandine Puig Jonathan Axelrod Reto Caldelari Volker Heussler Rogerio Amino Salaheddine Mecheri

Front Immunol 2020 19;11:585502. Epub 2020 Nov 19.

Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Interactions Hôte Parasites, Paris, France.

Deciphering the mechanisms by which parasites develop inside hepatocytes is an important step toward the understanding of malaria pathogenesis. We propose that the nature and the magnitude of the inflammatory response in the liver are key for the establishment of the infection. Here, we used mice deficient in the multidrug resistance-2 gene (Mdr2)-encoded phospholipid flippase leading to the development of liver inflammation. Infection of Mdr2 mice with ANKA (ANKA) sporozoites (SPZ) resulted in the blockade of hepatic exo-erythrocytic forms (EEFs) with no further development into blood stage parasites. Interestingly, cultured primary hepatocytes from mutant and wild-type mice are equally effective in supporting EEF development. The abortive infection resulted in a long-lasting immunity in Mdr2 mice against infectious SPZ where neutrophils and IL-6 appear as key effector components along with CD8 and CD4 effector and central memory T cells. Inflammation-induced breakdown of liver tolerance promotes anti-parasite immunity and provides new approaches for the design of effective vaccines against malaria disease.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.585502DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7710885PMC
November 2020

The pro-oncogenic effect of the lncRNA H19 in the development of chronic inflammation-mediated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Authors:
Lika Gamaev Lina Mizrahi Tomer Friehmann Nofar Rosenberg Orit Pappo Devorah Olam Evelyne Zeira Keren Bahar Halpern Stefano Caruso Jessica Zucman-Rossi Jonathan H Axelrod Eithan Galun Daniel S Goldenberg

Oncogene 2021 01 22;40(1):127-139. Epub 2020 Oct 22.

The Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene and Cell Therapy, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.

The oncofetal long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) H19 is postnatally repressed in most tissues, and re-expressed in many cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The role of H19 in carcinogenesis is a subject of controversy. We aimed to examine the role of H19 in chronic inflammation-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis using the Mdr2/Abcb4 knockout (Mdr2-KO) mouse, a well-established HCC model. For this goal, we have generated Mdr2-KO/H19-KO double knockout (dKO) mice and followed spontaneous tumor development in the dKO and control Mdr2-KO mice. Cellular localization of H19 and effects of H19 loss in the liver were determined in young and old Mdr2-KO mice. Tumor incidence and tumor load were both significantly decreased in the liver of dKO versus Mdr2-KO females. The expression levels of H19 and Igf2 were variable in nontumor liver tissues of Mdr2-KO females and were significantly downregulated in most matched tumors. In nontumor liver tissue of aged Mdr2-KO females, H19 was expressed mainly in hepatocytes, and hepatocyte proliferation was increased compared to dKO females. At an early age, dKO females displayed lower levels of liver injury and B-cell infiltration, with higher percentage of binuclear hepatocytes. In human samples, H19 expression was higher in females, positively correlated with cirrhosis (in nontumor liver samples) and negatively correlated with CTNNB1 (beta-catenin) mutations and patients' survival (in tumors). Our data demonstrate that the lncRNA H19 is pro-oncogenic during the development of chronic inflammation-mediated HCC in the Mdr2-KO mouse model, mainly by increasing liver injury and decreasing hepatocyte polyploidy in young mice.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41388-020-01513-7DOI Listing
January 2021

The glutathione peroxidase 8 (GPX8)/IL-6/STAT3 axis is essential in maintaining an aggressive breast cancer phenotype.

Authors:
Anees Khatib Balakrishnan Solaimuthu Michal Ben Yosef Areej Abu Rmaileh Mayur Tanna Gidi Oren Michal Schlesinger Frisch Jonathan H Axelrod Michal Lichtenstein Yoav D Shaul

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020 09 18;117(35):21420-21431. Epub 2020 Aug 18.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel;

One of the emerging hallmarks of cancer illustrates the importance of metabolic reprogramming, necessary to synthesize the building blocks required to fulfill the high demands of rapidly proliferating cells. However, the proliferation-independent instructive role of metabolic enzymes in tumor plasticity is still unclear. Here, we provide evidence that glutathione peroxidase 8 (GPX8), a poorly characterized enzyme that resides in the endoplasmic reticulum, is an essential regulator of tumor aggressiveness. We found that GPX8 expression was induced by the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program. Moreover, in breast cancer patients, GPX8 expression significantly correlated with known mesenchymal markers and poor prognosis. Strikingly, GPX8 knockout in mesenchymal-like cells (MDA-MB-231) resulted in an epithelial-like morphology, down-regulation of EMT characteristics, and loss of cancer stemness features. In addition, GPX8 knockout significantly delayed tumor initiation and decreased its growth rate in mice. We found that these GPX8 loss-dependent phenotypes were accompanied by the repression of crucial autocrine factors, in particular, interleukin-6 (IL-6). In these cells, IL-6 bound to the soluble receptor (sIL6R), stimulating the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway by IL-6 -signaling mechanisms, so promoting cancer aggressiveness. We observed that in GPX8 knockout cells, this signaling mechanism was impaired as sIL6R failed to activate the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway. Altogether, we present the GPX8/IL-6/STAT3 axis as a metabolic-inflammatory pathway that acts as a robust regulator of cancer cell aggressiveness.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2010275117DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7474634PMC
September 2020

Agonist of RORA Attenuates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Progression in Mice via Up-regulation of MicroRNA 122.

Authors:
Chofit Chai Bryan Cox Dayana Yaish Devora Gross Nofar Rosenberg Franck Amblard Zohar Shemuelian Maytal Gefen Amit Korach Oren Tirosh Tali Lanton Henrike Link Joseph Tam Anna Permyakova Gunes Ozhan Jonathan Citrin Haixing Liao Mirna Tannous Michal Hahn Jonathan Axelrod Enara Arretxe Cristina Alonso Ibon Martinez-Arranz Pablo Ortiz Betés Rifaat Safadi Ahmad Salhab Johnny Amer Zahira Tber Seema Mengshetti Hilla Giladi Raymond F Schinazi Eithan Galun

Gastroenterology 2020 09 22;159(3):999-1014.e9. Epub 2020 May 22.

Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address:

Background & Aims: Development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with reductions in hepatic microRNA122 (MIR122); the RAR related orphan receptor A (RORA) promotes expression of MIR122. Increasing expression of RORA in livers of mice increases expression of MIR122 and reduces lipotoxicity. We investigated the effects of a RORA agonist in mouse models of NASH.

Methods: We screened a chemical library to identify agonists of RORA and tested their effects on a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Huh7). C57BL/6 mice were fed a chow or high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks to induce fatty liver. Mice were given hydrodynamic tail vein injections of a MIR122 antagonist (antagomiR-122) or a control antagomiR once each week for 3 weeks while still on the HFD or chow diet, or intraperitoneal injections of the RORA agonist RS-2982 or vehicle, twice each week for 3 weeks. Livers, gonad white adipose, and skeletal muscle were collected and analyzed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, histology, and immunohistochemistry. A separate group of mice were fed an atherogenic diet, with or without injections of RS-2982 for 3 weeks; livers were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and plasma was analyzed for levels of aminotransferases. We analyzed data from liver tissues from patients with NASH included in the RNA-sequencing databases GSE33814 and GSE89632.

Results: Injection of mice with antagomiR-122 significantly reduced levels of MIR122 in plasma, liver, and white adipose tissue; in mice on an HFD, antagomiR-122 injections increased fat droplets and total triglyceride content in liver and reduced β-oxidation and energy expenditure, resulting in significantly more weight gain than in mice given the control microRNA. We identified RS-2982 as an agonist of RORA and found it to increase expression of MIR122 promoter activity in Huh7 cells. In mice fed an HFD or atherogenic diet, injections of RS-2982 increased hepatic levels of MIR122 precursors and reduced hepatic synthesis of triglycerides by reducing expression of biosynthesis enzymes. In these mice, RS-2982 significantly reduced hepatic lipotoxicity, reduced liver fibrosis, increased insulin resistance, and reduced body weight compared with mice injected with vehicle. Patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery had increased levels of plasma MIR122 compared to its levels before surgery; increased expression of plasma MIR122 was associated with increased levels of plasma free fatty acids and levels of RORA.

Conclusions: We identified the compound RS-2982 as an agonist of RORA that increases expression of MIR122 in cell lines and livers of mice. Mice fed an HFD or atherogenic diet given injections of RS-2982 had reduced hepatic lipotoxicity, liver fibrosis, and body weight compared with mice given the vehicle. Agonists of RORA might be developed for treatment of NASH.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2020.05.056DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7722250PMC
September 2020

Interleukin-6 contributes to the increase in fibroblast growth factor 23 expression in acute and chronic kidney disease.

Authors:
Karina Durlacher-Betzer Alia Hassan Ronen Levi Jonathan Axelrod Justin Silver Tally Naveh-Many

Kidney Int 2018 08 31;94(2):315-325. Epub 2018 May 31.

Minerva Center for Calcium and Bone Metabolism, Nephrology Services, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address:

The high serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Mice with folic acid-induced AKI had an increase in bone FGF23 mRNA expression together with an increase in serum FGF23 and several circulating cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6). Dexamethasone partially prevented the increase in IL-6 and FGF23 in the AKI mice. IL-6 knock-out mice fed an adenine diet to induce CKD failed to increase bone FGF23 mRNA and had a muted increase in serum FGF23 levels, compared with the increases in wild-type mice with CKD. Therefore, IL-6 contributes to the increase in FGF23 observed in CKD. Hydrodynamic tail injection of IL-6/soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) fusion protein hyper IL-6 (HIL-6) plasmid increased serum FGF23 levels. Circulating sIL-6R levels were increased in both CKD and AKI mice, suggesting that IL-6 increases FGF23 through sIL-6R-mediated trans-signaling. Renal IL-6 mRNA expression was increased in mice with either AKI or CKD, suggesting the kidney is the source for the increased serum IL-6 levels in the uremic state. HIL-6 also increased FGF23 mRNA in calvaria organ cultures and osteoblast-like UMR106 cells in culture, demonstrating a direct effect of IL-6 on FGF23 expression. HIL-6 increased FGF23 promoter activity through STAT3 phosphorylation and its evolutionarily conserved element in the FGF23 promoter. Thus, IL-6 increases FGF23 transcription and contributes to the high levels of serum FGF23 in both acute and chronic kidney disease.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2018.02.026DOI Listing
August 2018

Split Protein-Ligation Generates Active IL-6-Type Hyper-Cytokines from Inactive Precursors.

Authors:
Jens M Moll Melanie Wehmöller Nils C Frank Lisa Homey Paul Baran Christoph Garbers Larissa Lamertz Jonathan H Axelrod Eithan Galun Henning D Mootz Jürgen Scheller

ACS Synth Biol 2017 12 29;6(12):2260-2272. Epub 2017 Nov 29.

Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Heinrich-Heine University , 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.

Trans-signaling of the major pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-11 has the unique feature to virtually activate all cells of the body and is critically involved in chronic inflammation and regeneration. Hyper-IL-6 and Hyper-IL-11 are single chain designer trans-signaling cytokines, in which the cytokine and soluble receptor units are trapped in one complex via a flexible peptide linker. Albeit, Hyper-cytokines are essential tools to study trans-signaling in vitro and in vivo, the superior potency of these designer cytokines are accompanied by undesirable stress responses. To enable tailor-made generation of Hyper-cytokines, we developed inactive split-cytokine-precursors adapted for posttranslational reassembly by split-intein mediated protein trans-splicing (PTS). We identified cutting sites within IL-6 (E/S) and IL-11 (G/S) and obtained inactive split-Hyper-IL-6 and split-Hyper-IL-11 cytokine precursors. After fusion with split-inteins, PTS resulted in reconstitution of active Hyper-cytokines, which were efficiently secreted from transfected cells. Our strategy comprises the development of a background-free cytokine signaling system from reversibly inactivated precursor cytokines.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acssynbio.7b00208DOI Listing
December 2017

A Protective Function of IL-22BP in Ischemia Reperfusion and Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury.

Authors:
Dörte Kleinschmidt Anastasios D Giannou Heather M McGee Jan Kempski Babett Steglich Francis Jessica Huber Thomas Michael Ernst Ahmad Mustafa Shiri Claudia Wegscheid Elena Tasika Peter Hübener Philipp Huber Tanja Bedke Niklas Steffens Theodora Agalioti Tobias Fuchs Jill Noll Hannelore Lotter Gisa Tiegs Ansgar W Lohse Jonathan H Axelrod Eithan Galun Richard A Flavell Nicola Gagliani Samuel Huber

J Immunol 2017 12 6;199(12):4078-4090. Epub 2017 Nov 6.

I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany;

Acute liver injury can be secondary to a variety of causes, including infections, intoxication, and ischemia. All of these insults induce hepatocyte death and subsequent inflammation, which can make acute liver injury a life-threatening event. IL-22 is a dual natured cytokine which has context-dependent protective and pathogenic properties during tissue damage. Accordingly, IL-22 was shown to promote liver regeneration upon acute liver damage. However, other studies suggest pathogenic properties of IL-22 during chronic liver injury. IL-22 binding protein (IL-22BP, IL-22Ra2) is a soluble inhibitor of IL-22 that regulates IL-22 activity. However, the significance of endogenous IL-22BP in acute liver injury is unknown. We hypothesized that IL-22BP may play a role in acute liver injury. To test this hypothesis, we used -deficient mice and murine models of acute liver damage induced by ischemia reperfusion and -acetyl--aminophenol (acetaminophen) administration. We found that -deficient mice were more susceptible to acute liver damage in both models. We used × double-deficient mice to show that this effect is indeed due to uncontrolled IL-22 activity. We could demonstrate mechanistically increased expression of by hepatocytes, and consequently increased infiltration of inflammatory CD11bLy6C monocytes into the liver in -deficient mice upon liver damage. Accordingly, neutralization of CXCL10 reversed the increased disease susceptibility of -deficient mice. In conclusion, our data indicate that IL-22BP plays a protective role in acute liver damage, via controlling IL-22-induced expression.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.1700587DOI Listing
December 2017

Interleukin 6-dependent genomic instability heralds accelerated carcinogenesis following liver regeneration on a background of chronic hepatitis.

Authors:
Tali Lanton Anat Shriki Yael Nechemia-Arbely Rinat Abramovitch Orr Levkovitch Revital Adar Nofar Rosenberg Mor Paldor Daniel Goldenberg Amir Sonnenblick Amnon Peled Stefan Rose-John Eithan Galun Jonathan H Axelrod

Hepatology 2017 05 23;65(5):1600-1611. Epub 2017 Mar 23.

Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy.

Liver cancer, which typically develops on a background of chronic liver inflammation, is now the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. For patients with liver cancer, surgical resection is a principal treatment modality that offers a chance of prolonged survival. However, tumor recurrence after resection, the mechanisms of which remain obscure, markedly limits the long-term survival of these patients. We have shown that partial hepatectomy in multidrug resistance 2 knockout (Mdr2 ) mice, a model of chronic inflammation-associated liver cancer, significantly accelerates hepatocarcinogenesis. Here, we explore the postsurgical mechanisms that drive accelerated hepatocarcinogenesis in Mdr2 mice by perioperative pharmacological inhibition of interleukin-6 (IL6), which is a crucial liver regeneration priming cytokine. We demonstrate that inhibition of IL6 signaling dramatically impedes tumorigenesis following partial hepatectomy without compromising survival or liver mass recovery. IL6 blockade significantly inhibited hepatocyte cell cycle progression while promoting a hypertrophic regenerative response, without increasing apoptosis. Mdr2 mice contain hepatocytes with a notable persistent DNA damage response (γH2AX, 53BP1) due to chronic inflammation. We show that liver regeneration in this microenvironment leads to a striking increase in hepatocytes bearing micronuclei, a marker of genomic instability, which is suppressed by IL6 blockade.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that genomic instability derived during the IL6-mediated liver regenerative response within a milieu of chronic inflammation links partial hepatectomy to accelerated hepatocarcinogenesis; this suggests a new therapeutic approach through the usage of an anti-IL6 treatment to extend the tumor-free survival of patients undergoing surgical resection. (Hepatology 2017;65:1600-1611).
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hep.29004DOI Listing
May 2017

Radiation-Induced Loss of Salivary Gland Function Is Driven by Cellular Senescence and Prevented by IL6 Modulation.

Authors:
Yitzhak Marmary Revital Adar Svetlana Gaska Annette Wygoda Alexander Maly Jonathan Cohen Ron Eliashar Lina Mizrachi Carmit Orfaig-Geva Bruce J Baum Stefan Rose-John Eithan Galun Jonathan H Axelrod

Cancer Res 2016 Mar 12;76(5):1170-80. Epub 2016 Jan 12.

Goldyne-Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.

Head and neck cancer patients treated by radiation commonly suffer from a devastating side effect known as dry-mouth syndrome, which results from the irreversible loss of salivary gland function via mechanisms that are not completely understood. In this study, we used a mouse model of radiation-induced salivary hypofunction to investigate the outcomes of DNA damage in the head and neck region. We demonstrate that the loss of salivary function was closely accompanied by cellular senescence, as evidenced by a persistent DNA damage response (γH2AX and 53BP1) and the expression of senescence-associated markers (SA-βgal, p19ARF, and DcR2) and secretory phenotype (SASP) factors (PAI-1 and IL6). Notably, profound apoptosis or necrosis was not observed in irradiated regions. Signs of cellular senescence were also apparent in irradiated salivary glands surgically resected from human patients who underwent radiotherapy. Importantly, using IL6 knockout mice, we found that sustained expression of IL6 in the salivary gland long after initiation of radiation-induced DNA damage was required for both senescence and hypofunction. Additionally, we demonstrate that IL6 pretreatment prevented both senescence and salivary gland hypofunction via a mechanism involving enhanced DNA damage repair. Collectively, these results indicate that cellular senescence is a fundamental mechanism driving radiation-induced damage in the salivary gland and suggest that IL6 pretreatment may represent a promising therapeutic strategy to preserve salivary gland function in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-15-1671DOI Listing
March 2016

Sorafenib treatment during partial hepatectomy reduces tumorgenesis in an inflammation-associated liver cancer model.

Authors:
Tamar Zahavi Tali Lanton Mali Salmon Divon Asher Salmon Tamar Peretz Eithan Galun Jonathan H Axelrod Amir Sonnenblick

Oncotarget 2016 Jan;7(4):4860-70

Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.

The long-term prognosis after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is one of the treatment options for early-stage HCC, remains unsatisfactory as a result of a high incidence of disease recurrence. Recent studies performed in murine models revealed a link between liver regeneration under chronic inflammation and hepatic tumorigenesis. Sorafenib is a potent drug for advanced HCC with multikinase inhibition activity. We propose that inhibition of signal transduction pathways which are activated during hepatectomy, using Sorafenib, will reduce accelerated tumorigenesis. To test this hypothesis, we studied the Mdr2-knockout (KO) mouse strain, a model of inflammation-associated cancer, which underwent partial hepatectomy (PHx) at three months of age, with or without Sorafenib.Here we show that Sorafenib treatment during PHx inhibited different signal transduction pathways at the multikinase levels, but did not result in increased morbidity or mortality. At the early stages after PHx, Sorafenib treatment had no effect on the course of proliferation, apoptosis and DNA repair in the regenerating liver, but resulted in decreased stellate cells activation and inflammatory response. Finally, we show that Sorafenib treatment during PHx at three months of age resulted in decreased fibrosis and tumor formation at 8.5 months.In conclusion our study indicates that short-term Sorafenib treatment during PHx is safe and effective in inhibiting inflammation-associated cancer, and is therefore a potential strategy for recurrence prevention in patients with early-stage HCC treated with PHx.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.6638DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4826248PMC
January 2016

Endothelin-converting enzyme is a plausible target gene for hypoxia-inducible factor.

Authors:
Mogher Khamaisi Hala Toukan Jonathan H Axelrod Christian Rosenberger Galia Skarzinski Ahuva Shina Rina Meidan Robert Koesters Seymour Rosen Gail Walkinshaw Imari Mimura Masaomi Nangaku Samuel N Heyman

Kidney Int 2015 Apr 3;87(4):761-70. Epub 2014 Dec 3.

Department of Medicine, Hebrew University, Hadassah Hospitals, Jerusalem, Israel.

Renal endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE)-1 is induced in experimental diabetes and following radiocontrast administration, conditions characterized by renal hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) stabilization, and enhanced endothelin synthesis. Here we tested whether ECE-1 might be a HIF-target gene in vitro and in vivo. ECE-1 transcription and expression increased in cultured vascular endothelial and proximal tubular cell lines, subject to hypoxia, to mimosine or cobalt chloride. These interventions are known to stabilize HIF signaling by inhibition of HIF-prolyl hydroxylases. In rats, HIF-prolyl-hydroxylase inhibition by mimosine or FG-4497 increased HIF-1α immunostaining in renal tubules, principally in distal nephron segments. This was associated with markedly enhanced ECE-1 protein expression, predominantly in the renal medulla. A progressive and dramatic increase in ECE-1 immunostaining over time, in parallel with enhanced HIF expression, was also noted in conditional von Hippel-Lindau knockout mice. Since HIF and STAT3 are cross-stimulated, we triggered HIF expression by STAT3 activation in mice, transfected by or injected with a chimeric IL-6/IL-6-receptor protein, and found a similar pattern of enhanced ECE-1 expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequence (ChIP-seq) and PCR analysis in hypoxic endothelial cells identified HIF binding at the ECE-1 promoter and intron regions. Thus, our findings suggest that ECE-1 may be a novel HIF-target gene.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ki.2014.362DOI Listing
April 2015

Assessment with unenhanced MRI techniques of renal morphology and hemodynamic changes during acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease in mice.

Authors:
Zohar Milman Jonathan H Axelrod Samuel N Heyman Nathalie Nachmansson Rinat Abramovitch

Am J Nephrol 2014 21;39(3):268-78. Epub 2014 Mar 21.

The Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.

Background/aims: Changes in renal oxygenation and perfusion have been identified as common pathways to the development and progression of renal disease. Recently, the sensitivity of hemodynamic response imaging (HRI) was demonstrated; this is a functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method combined with transient hypercapnia and hyperoxia for the evaluation of renal perfusion and vascular reactivity. The aim of this study was to utilize HRI for the noninvasive evaluation of changes in renal hemodynamics and morphology during acute, chronic and acute-on-chronic renal failures.

Methods: Renal-HRI maps and true fast imaging with steady-state precession (True-FISP) images were used to evaluate renal perfusion, morphology and corticomedullary differentiation (CMD). MR images were acquired on two mouse models of kidney injury: adenine-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Serum urea was measured from these mice in order to determine renal function.

Results: Renal-HRI maps revealed a blunted response to hypercapnia and hyperoxia with evolving kidney dysfunction in both models, reflecting hampered renal vascular reactivity and perfusion. True-FISP images showed a high sensitivity to renal morphological changes, with different patterns characterizing each model. Calculated data obtained from HRI and True-FISP during the evolution of renal failure and upon recovery, with and without protective intervention, closely correlated with the degree of renal impairment.

Conclusions: This study suggests the potential combined usage of two noninvasive MRI methods, HRI and True-FISP, for the assessment of renal dysfunction without the potential risk associated with contrast-agents administration. HRI may also serve as a research tool in experimental settings, revealing the hemodynamic changes associated with kidney dysfunction.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000360093DOI Listing
December 2014

Natural killer cell-dependent anti-fibrotic pathway in liver injury via Toll-like receptor-9.

Authors:
Lina Abu-Tair Jonathan H Axelrod Sarit Doron Yossi Ovadya Valery Krizhanovsky Eithan Galun Johnny Amer Rifaat Safadi

PLoS One 2013 10;8(12):e82571. Epub 2013 Dec 10.

Liver & Gastroenterology Units; Division of Medicine, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.

The toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) agonist cytosine phosphate guanine (CpG), activates hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and mediates fibrosis. We investigated the TLR9 effects on lymphocyte/HSCs interactions. Liver fibrosis was induced in wild-type (WT) mice by intra-peritoneal carbon-tetrachloride (CCl4) induction for 6 weeks. Fibrotic groups were intravenously treated by a vehicle versus CpG along last 2 weeks. Compared to vehicle-treated fibrotic WT, the in-vivo CpG-treatment significantly attenuated hepatic fibrosis and inflammation, associated with decreased CD8 and increased NK liver cells. In-vitro, co-cultures with vehicle-treated fibrotic NK cells increased HSCs proliferation (P<0.001) while their CpG-treated counterparts achieved a significant decrease. To investigate the role of lymphocytes, TLR9(-/-) mice induced-hepatic fibrosis were used. Although TLR9(-/-) mice manifested lower fibrotic profile as compared to their wild-type (WT) counterparts, senescence (SA-β-Gal activity) in the liver and ALT serum levels were significantly greater. In an adoptive transfer model; irradiated WT and TLR9(-/-) recipients were reconstituted with naïve WT or TLR9(-/-) lymphocytes. The adoptive transfer of TLR9(-/-) versus WT lymphocytes led to increased fibrosis of WT recipients. TLR9(-/-) fibrotic recipients reconstituted with TLR9(-/-) or WT lymphocytes showed no changes in hepatic fibrosis severity or ALT serum levels. TLR9 activation had inconsistent effects on lymphocytes and HSCs. The net balance of TLR9 activation in WT, displayed significant anti-fibrotic activity, accompanied by CD8 suppression and increased NK-cells, activity and adherence to HSCs. The pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory properties of TLR9(-/-) lymphocytes fail to activate HSCs with an early senescence in TLR9(-/-) mice.
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http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0082571PLOS
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3858328PMC
September 2014

Inflammation-induced hepatocellular carcinoma is dependent on CCR5 in mice.

Authors:
Neta Barashi Ido D Weiss Ori Wald Hanna Wald Katia Beider Michal Abraham Shiri Klein Daniel Goldenberg Jonathan Axelrod Eli Pikarsky Rinat Abramovitch Evelyne Zeira Eithan Galun Amnon Peled

Hepatology 2013 Sep 12;58(3):1021-30. Epub 2013 Jul 12.

Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Human Biology Research Center, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.

Unlabelled: Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an inflammation-induced cancer, which is the third-leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. We investigated the role of the chemokine receptors, CCR5 and CCR1, in regulating inflammation and tumorigenesis in an inflammation-induced HCC model in mice. Multidrug resistance 2 gene (Mdr2)-knockout (Mdr2-KO) mice spontaneously develop chronic cholestatic hepatitis and fibrosis that is eventually followed by HCC. We generated two new strains from the Mdr2-KO mouse, the Mdr2:CCR5 and the Mdr2:CCR1 double knockouts (DKOs), and set out to compare inflammation and tumorigenesis among these strains. We found that in Mdr2-KO mice lacking the chemokine receptor, CCR5 (Mdr2:CCR5 DKO mice), but not CCR1 (Mdr2:CCR1 DKO), macrophage recruitment and trafficking to the liver was significantly reduced. Furthermore, in the absence of CCR5, reduced inflammation was also associated with reduced periductal accumulation of CD24(+) oval cells and abrogation of fibrosis. DKO mice for Mdr2 and CCR5 exhibited a significant decrease in tumor incidence and size.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that CCR5 has a critical role in both the development and progression of liver cancer. Therefore, we propose that a CCR5 antagonist can serve for HCC cancer prevention and treatment.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hep.26403DOI Listing
September 2013

Tumor STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation status, as a predictor of benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Authors:
Amir Sonnenblick Beatrice Uziely Hovav Nechushtan Luna Kadouri Eithan Galun Jonathan H Axelrod Daniela Katz Hagit Daum Tamar Hamburger Bela Maly Tanir M Allweis Tamar Peretz

Breast Cancer Res Treat 2013 Apr 28;138(2):407-13. Epub 2013 Feb 28.

Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Ein Kerem, P.O. Box 12000, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a point of convergence for numerous oncogenic signaling pathways. In breast cancer cell lines and xenograft models activated STAT3 participates in breast tumorigenesis, while studies in humans have demonstrated that phosphorylated (tyrosine705)-STAT3 is a marker of good prognosis in breast cancer. In order to resolve this paradox we hypothesized that in clinic, phospho-STAT3 has a predictive role of benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy; therefore the goal of this study was to determine the usefulness of phospho-STAT3 status as a predictor of benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Immunohistochemical analysis of phospho-STAT3 was performed on a tissue microarray of breast cancer specimens. The expression pattern of phospho-STAT3 was retrospectively correlated with pathological parameters and overall survival in patients who were or were not treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Of 375 tissue specimens interpretable for phospho-STAT3, 134 (36 %) exhibited positive phospho-STAT3 nuclear expression. Among 234 patients who received adjuvant therapy, those with tumors displaying positive phospho-STAT3 nuclear expression had a better ten-year rate of overall survival than patients with tumors displaying negative phospho-STAT3 nuclear expression (P = 0.001). Among patients who did not received adjuvant chemotherapy, positive phospho-STAT3 nuclear status was not correlated with increased overall survival (P = 0.54). Positive phospho-STAT3 was correlated with improved overall survival only among patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy in a multivariate analysis adjusted for stage, grade, hormonal status, Her2 status, and age, irrespective of the chemotherapy regimen received (hazard ratio for death, 0.35 [95 % CI 0.188-0.667]; P = 0.001). These findings support the role of phospho-STAT3 as a marker of favorable outcome in breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Whether phospho-STAT3 has a predictive role of benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy has to be validated on prospective, randomized, controlled studies.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10549-013-2453-xDOI Listing
April 2013

In vivo evidence suggesting reciprocal renal hypoxia-inducible factor-1 upregulation and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation in response to hypoxic and non-hypoxic stimuli.

Authors:
Yael Nechemia-Arbely Mogher Khamaisi Christian Rosenberger Robert Koesters Ahuva Shina Carmit Geva Anat Shriki Stephen Klaus Seymour Rosen Stefan Rose-John Eithan Galun Jonathan H Axelrod Samuel N Heyman

Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2013 Apr;40(4):262-72

Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel, Israel.

In vitro studies suggest that combined activation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) promotes the hypoxia response. However, their interrelationship in vivo remains poorly defined. The present study investigated the possible relationship between HIF-1 upregulation and STAT3 activation in the rodent kidney in vivo. Activation of HIF-1 and STAT3 was analysed by immunohistochemical staining and western blot analysis in: (i) models of hypoxia-associated kidney injury induced by radiocontrast media or rhabdomyolysis; (ii) following activation of STAT3 by the interleukin (IL)-6-soluble IL-6 receptor complex; or (iii) following HIF-1α stabilization using hypoxic and non-hypoxic stimuli (mimosine, FG-4497, CO, CoCl(2)) and in targeted von Hippel-Lindau-knockout mice. Western blot analysis and immunostaining revealed marked induction of both transcription factors under all conditions tested, suggesting that in vivo STAT3 can trigger HIF and vice versa. Colocalization of HIF-1α and phosphorylated STAT3 was detected in some, but not all, renal cell types, suggesting that in some cells a paracrine mechanism may be responsible for the reciprocal activation of the two transcription factors. Nevertheless, in several cell types spatial concordance was observed under the majority of conditions tested, suggesting that HIF-1 and STAT3 may act as cotranscription factors. These in vivo studies suggest that, in response to renal hypoxic-stress, upregulation of HIF-1 and activation of STAT3 may be both reciprocal and cell type dependent.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1440-1681.12064DOI Listing
April 2013

Hemodynamic response magnetic resonance imaging: application for renal hemodynamic characterization.

Authors:
Zohar Milman Samuel N Heyman Nathalie Corchia Yifat Edrei Jonathan H Axelrod Chrisitian Rosenberger Galia Tsarfati Rinat Abramovitch

Nephrol Dial Transplant 2013 May 4;28(5):1150-6. Epub 2013 Jan 4.

The Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.

Background: The clinical use of iodinated radiocontrast agents or gadolinium for renal perfusion imaging is limited in the presence of renal dysfunction. We have previously demonstrated the feasibility of hemodynamic response imaging (HRI), a functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method combined with hypercapnia and hypercapnic-hyperoxia, for monitoring changes in liver perfusion and hemodynamics. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the utility of HRI for monitoring changes in renal perfusion and hemodynamics.

Methods: Renal HRI maps were acquired during graded hypercapnia (95% air + 5% CO2) and hypercapnic-hyperoxia (95% O2 + 5% CO2) in control mice. The utility of HRI for monitoring changes in renal perfusion and oxygenation was evaluated using pharmacological inhibition of nitric oxide synthase and cycloxygenase as well as in rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in mice. HRI results were further interpreted using Doppler ultrasound (US).

Results: Renal HRI maps revealed pronounced signal-intensity changes in response to both hypercapnia and hypercapnic-hyperoxia, reflecting intense vascular reactivity. These changes were significantly attenuated following the pharmacological intervention and during AKI, corresponding with hampered perfusion dynamics, as confirmed by Doppler US.

Conclusions: The applicability of the non-invasive HRI method suggests its potential use for the evaluation of renal perfusion and vascular reactivity, excluding the need for contrast-agent administration.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfs541DOI Listing
May 2013

Tissue microarray-based study of patients with lymph node-positive breast cancer shows tyrosine phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (tyrosine705-STAT3) is a marker of good prognosis.

Authors:
Amir Sonnenblick Anat Shriki E Galun Jonathan H Axelrod Hagit Daum Yakir Rottenberg Tamar Hamburger Bela Mali Tamar Peretz

Clin Transl Oncol 2012 Mar;14(3):232-6

Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Ein Kerem, POB 12000, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.

Background: Although lymph node-positive breast cancers are associated with poorer prognosis, individual patients may have different clinical outcomes. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a point of convergence for numerous oncogenic signalling pathways. The goal of this study was to determine the prognostic value of phosphorylated (tyrosine705)-STAT3 in node-positive breast cancer patients.

Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis of Phospho- STAT3 was performed on a tissue microarray of breast cancer specimens. The expression pattern of Phospho-STAT3 was correlated with survival outcome, and clinical and pathological parameters.

Results: Out of 125 interpretable tumours, positive Phospho- STAT3 nuclear expression was seen in 35 (28%) of tumours. There was no significant relationship between Phospho-STAT3 expression and clinical-pathological parameters including age, hormonal receptor status, grade and tumour size. Interestingly positive tumours had a significantly improved disease-free survival at 5 years (p=0.035). Additionally, positive Phospho-STAT3 nuclear expression was correlated with significantly improved survival at both 5 years (p=0.023) and 10 years (p=0.026). Finally, in multivariate analyses Phospho-STAT3 was found to be an independent prognostic marker of overall survival in node-positive breast cancer patients.

Conclusion: These findings support the role of Phospho- STAT3 as an important independent prognostic marker in node-positive breast cancer patients.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12094-012-0789-zDOI Listing
March 2012

Diabetes blockade of sevoflurane postconditioning is not restored by insulin in the rat heart: phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3- and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-mediated inhibition.

Authors:
Benjamin Drenger Israel A Ostrovsky Michal Barak Yael Nechemia-Arbely Ehud Ziv Jonathan H Axelrod

Anesthesiology 2011 Jun;114(6):1364-72

Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.

Background: The possibility of restoring sevoflurane postconditioning (sevo-postC) cardioprotection in diabetic animals is uncertain. We hypothesized that attenuation of myocardial injury by sevo-postC might be hindered by inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3-regulated activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in diabetic animals. To determine whether postC cardioprotection can be restored by normoglycemia, we treated rats with insulin.

Methods: Diabetic or nondiabetic rats were randomly subjected to 30-min ischemia/reperfusion, with ischemic postC or sevo-postC, with and without mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium channel blocker 5-hydroxy decanoate sodium and PI3K antagonist wortmannin. The infarct area, phosphorylated STAT3, and apoptosis were examined. Studies were repeated after insulin treatment.

Results: Ischemic postC and sevo-postC significantly reduced infarct size by 50% in the nondiabetic rats (P < 0.002), a phenomenon completely reversed by 5-hydroxy decanoate sodium and wortmannin. Diabetes mellitus blocked the protective effect of postC, and insulin treatment to achieve normoglycemia did not restore cardioprotection. Phosphorylated STAT3 nuclear retention was significantly increased after ischemia-reperfusion and was further enhanced in response to ischemic postC (P < 0.05) but was significantly reduced in diabetic rats (by 43%; P < 0.01).

Conclusions: The effective reduction in infarct size and apoptosis in the nondiabetic rat heart by postC was completely abrogated in diabetic rats. This inhibition is not relieved by insulin-induced normoglycemia. The PI3K pathway and mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium channel activation are involved in the mechanism of postC. In diabetic rats, STAT3 activation was strongly reduced, as was postC cardioprotection, suggesting that the inability of insulin to restore postC may be attributed to diabetes-induced STAT3-mediated inhibition of PI3K signaling.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0b013e31820efafdDOI Listing
June 2011

Early hepatocyte DNA synthetic response posthepatectomy is modulated by IL-6 trans-signaling and PI3K/AKT activation.

Authors:
Yael Nechemia-Arbely Anat Shriki Ulrich Denz Claudia Drucker Jürgen Scheller Jonathan Raub Orit Pappo Stefan Rose-John Eithan Galun Jonathan H Axelrod

J Hepatol 2011 May 31;54(5):922-9. Epub 2010 Oct 31.

The Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.

Background & Aims: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a crucial factor in liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy (PH); however, the role of IL-6 and IL-6 trans-signaling in particular, in hepatocyte mitosis remains controversial. IL-6 trans-signaling relies upon the release of the soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R), which binds IL-6 to form an agonistic IL-6/sIL-6R complex. Herein we have examined the hypothesis that IL-6 trans-signaling plays a crucial and distinct role in liver regeneration following PH.

Methods: The specific IL-6/sIL-6R antagonist, sgp130Fc, was expressed in mice and analyzed for its effect on hepatocyte mitosis following PH. Alternatively, we examined the effect of the IL-6/sIL-6R super-agonist, Hyper-IL-6, or IL-6 expressed either alone or in combination with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on hepatocyte mitosis in the absence of PH.

Results: Following PH, the dramatic rise of circulating IL-6 levels is accompanied by a concurrent ∼2-fold increase in circulating sIL-6R levels. Ectopic expression of sgp130Fc reduced hepatocyte mitosis by about 40% at early times following PH, while substantially reducing AKT, but not STAT3, activation. But, ectopic Hyper-IL-6 expression in mice without PH was not mitogenic to hepatocytes in vivo. Rather, Hyper-IL-6, but not IL-6, markedly increased HGF-induced hepatocyte mitosis. This cooperative effect correlated with greater resistance of HIL-6 than IL-6 to HGF-mediated reduction of AKT activation, rather than changes in STAT3 or MAPK signaling, and was completely blocked by PI3K inhibition.

Conclusions: Following PH, IL-6/sIL-6R cooperates with growth factors, through a PI3K/AKT-dependent mechanism to promote entry of hepatocytes into the cell cycle.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2010.08.017DOI Listing
May 2011

IL-6/IL-6R axis plays a critical role in acute kidney injury.

Authors:
Yael Nechemia-Arbely Daniel Barkan Galina Pizov Anat Shriki Stefan Rose-John Eithan Galun Jonathan H Axelrod

J Am Soc Nephrol 2008 Jun 12;19(6):1106-15. Epub 2008 Mar 12.

Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.

The response to tissue injury involves the coordination of inflammatory and repair processes. IL-6 expression correlates with the onset and severity of acute kidney injury (AKI), but its contribution to pathogenesis remains unclear. This study established a critical role for IL-6 in both the inflammatory response and the resolution of AKI. IL-6-deficient mice were resistant to HgCl2-induced AKI compared with wild-type mice. The accumulation of peritubular neutrophils was lower in IL-6-deficient mice than in wild-type mice, and neutrophil depletion before HgCl2 administration in wild-type mice significantly reduced AKI; these results demonstrate the critical role of IL-6 signaling in the injurious inflammatory process in AKI. Renal IL-6 expression and STAT3 activation in renal tubular epithelial cells significantly increased during the development of injury, suggesting active IL-6 signaling. Although a lack of renal IL-6 receptors (IL-6R) precludes the activation of classical signaling pathways, IL-6 can stimulate target cells together with a soluble form of the IL-6R (sIL-6R) in a process termed trans-signaling. During injury,serum sIL-6R levels increased three-fold, suggesting a possible role for IL-6 trans-signaling in AKI. Stimulation of IL-6 trans-signaling with an IL-6/sIL-6R fusion protein activated STAT3 in renal tubular epithelium and prevented AKI. IL-6/sIL-6R reduced lipid peroxidation after injury, suggesting that its protective effect may be largely mediated through amelioration of oxidative stress. In summary, IL-6 simultaneously promotes an injurious inflammatory response and, through a mechanism of trans-signaling, protects the kidney from further injury.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2007070744DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2396933PMC
June 2008

Hepatitis B virus enhances transduction of human hepatocytes by SV40-based vectors.

Authors:
Uri Arad Jonathan Axelrod Orly Ben-nun-Shaul Ariella Oppenheim Eithan Galun

J Hepatol 2004 Mar;40(3):520-6

Department of Hematology and Goldyne Savad Gene Therapy Institute, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School and Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.

Background/aims: Chronic HBV infection, a world-wide epidemic, can lead to chronic hepatitis and eventually to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The liver poses obstacles for many available gene-transfer vectors. SV40-based vectors can transduce human hepatic and hematopoietic cells. We studied the effect of HBV on the transduction - efficiency of human hepatic cells by SV40 - based vectors.

Methods: A SV40-vector carrying the luciferase gene, and wild-type SV40, were used to assess transduction efficiency of human HBV-positive and HBV-negative hepatic cells. Transduction efficiency was measured as luciferase activity or by T-antigen staining. To evaluate whether differences in transduction efficiency are due to cell recognition and/or nuclear transport, MHC-I receptors were measured by FACS analysis and SV40-DNA was extracted from the nuclei of transduced cells and quantified.

Results: Two HBV-positive cell-lines, HepG2.2.2.15 and FLC4-A10II, were transduced significantly more efficiently than their parental HBV-negative cell-lines. Transient transfection of HuH-7 cells with the HBV genome also increased transduction efficiency. The level of MHC-I, the cellular receptor for SV40, was comparable in all the cell-lines studied. However, soon after infection with SV40, the nuclei of HepG2.2.2.15 contained >6-fold more SV40-DNA than HepG2.

Conclusions: HBV increases transduction by SV40-vectors. This is due to enhanced vector entry and/or transport into the nucleus. SV40-vectors appear to have a potential for gene therapy for the treatment of HBV infections.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2003.11.028DOI Listing
March 2004

Selectively reduced tat mRNA heralds the decline in productive human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in monocyte-derived macrophages.

Authors:
Secondo Sonza Helen P Mutimer Kate O'Brien Philip Ellery Jane L Howard Jonathan H Axelrod Nicholas J Deacon Suzanne M Crowe Damian F J Purcell

J Virol 2002 Dec;76(24):12611-21

AIDS Pathogenesis Research Unit, Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, G.P.O. Box 2284, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.

The transcription and splicing of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) mRNA in primary blood monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) and CD4(+) peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were compared to determine whether any differences might account for the slower noncytopathic infection of cells of the macrophage lineage. The expression of regulatory mRNAs during acute infection of MDM was delayed by about 12 h compared to that of PBL. In each cell type, an increase in spliced viral mRNAs slightly preceded virus production from the culture. Following the peak of productive infection, there was a proportional decrease in the expression of all regulatory mRNAs detected in PBL. In MDM, a dramatic additional decrease specifically in the tat mRNA species heralded a reduction in virus production. This decline in tat mRNA was reflected by a concomitant decrease in Tat activity in the cells and occurred with the same kinetics irrespective of the age of the cells when infected. Addition of exogenous Tat protein elicited a burst of virus production from persistently infected MDM, suggesting that the decrease in virus production from the cultures is a consequence of the reduction in tat mRNA levels. Our results show that modulation of HIV-1 mRNAs in macrophages during long-term infection, which is dependent on the period of infection rather than cell differentiation or maturation, results in a selective reduction of Tat protein levels at the commencement of a persistent, less productive phase of infection. Determination of the mechanism of this mRNA modulation may lead to novel targets for control of replication in these important viral reservoirs.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC136686PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/jvi.76.24.12611-12621.2002DOI Listing
December 2002

The role of cytokines in liver failure and regeneration: potential new molecular therapies.

Authors:
Eithan Galun Jonathan H Axelrod

Biochim Biophys Acta 2002 Nov;1592(3):345-58

The Goldyne Savad Institute for Gene Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel.

The liver is a unique organ, and first in line, the hepatocytes encounter the potential to proliferate during cell mass loss. This phenomenon is tightly controlled and resembles in some way the embryonal co-inhabitant cell lineage of the liver, the embryonic hematopoietic system. Interestingly, both the liver and hematopoietic cell proliferation and growth are controlled by various growth factors and cytokines. IL-6 and its signaling cascade inside the cells through STAT3 are both significantly important for liver regeneration as well as for hematopoietic cell proliferation. The process of liver regeneration is very complex and is dependent on the etiology and extent of liver damage and the genetic background. In this review we will initially describe the clinical relevant condition, portraying a number of available animal models with an emphasis on the relevance of each one to the human condition of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). The discussion will then be focused on the role of cytokines in liver failure and regeneration, and suggest potential new therapeutic modalities for FHF. The recent findings on the role of IL-6 in liver regeneration and the activity of the designer IL-6/sIL-6R fusion protein, hyper-IL-6, in particular, suggest that this molecule could significantly enhance liver regeneration in humans, and as such could be a useful treatment for FHF in patients.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0167-4889(02)00326-9DOI Listing
November 2002