|
|
||||||||
CUTTING EDGE |

* Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
Department of Periodontology, Center for Oral and Systemic Diseases, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
by TLR2, 4, and 5 agonists, live Escherichia coli, and Pg. Induction of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF also requires ASC, but this induction is not inhibited by IL-1 receptor antagonist or caspase-1 inhibitor. Similar results in U937 indicate broad applicability of these findings. Pg-infected ASC knockdown THP1 cells exhibit reduced transcript levels and NF-
B activation. These results suggest a role for ASC in cytokine induction by Pg involving both caspase-1-dependent and -independent mechanisms. | Introduction |
|---|
|
|
|---|
. Since IL-1
and other inflammatory cytokines cause periodontal tissue destruction, understanding how live Pg interacts with host cells and induces cytokine release will help clarify disease processes and identify treatment strategies.
Generation of mature IL-1
requires proteolytic processing of pro-IL-1
by the IL-1
-converting enzyme, caspase-1 (4). Caspase-1 is a component of the inflammasome, a cytosolic multiprotein complex that also contains apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain (ASC; also known as TMS1 or PYCARD) (5, 6, 7). ASC is a 21.5-kDa protein that contains a pyrin domain and caspase-recruitment domain, each of which belong to the death domain fold superfamily that regulates inflammation and apoptosis through protein-protein interactions (8).
A number of recent studies to determine the role of ASC in NF-
B-mediated induction of inflammatory cytokines have yielded conflicting results. Exogenously expressed ASC can activate, repress, or have no effect on NF-
B depending on dose and coexpression of CATERPILLER NBD-LRR proteins (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15). Since these studies were performed using an overexpression system, the results may not reflect the normal physiological function of ASC. Studies using macrophages from ASC/ mice suggest a role for ASC in caspase-1 activation but not in I
B degradation in response to TNF or LPS (16, 17). In contrast, studies using small interfering RNA and the human monocytic cell line THP1 indicate that ASC represses NF-
B (10). These same authors pointed out the difficulty in using this system due to low efficacy of their small interfering RNA (<50% knockdown) (11).
To address the role of human ASC in Pg response in a physiological setting, we have created stable THP1 cells expressing different short hairpin RNA (shRNA) for ASC. Studies using live Pg demonstrate that ASC is required for the induction of IL-1
, but also for the induction of other cytokines as a consequence of reduced NF-
B activation.
| Materials and Methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
THP1 and U937 monocytic cells (American Type Culture Collection) were cultured in RPMI 1640 and 10% FCS. Where indicated, cells were treated with 50 multiplicity of infection Pg, 0.5 multiplicity of infection E. coli, 20 ng/ml rIL-1
(PeproTech), 200 ng/ml Pam3Cys-Ser-(Lys)4-trihydrochloride (Alexis Biochemicals), 1 µg/ml Ultrapure Pg or E. coli 0111:B4 LPS, or 100 ng/ml flagellin (InvivoGen). BD ApoAlert VAD-fmk (pan-caspase inhibitor) or YVAD-cmk (caspase-1 inhibitor) (BD Clontech), DMSO (solvent control), or the IL-1 receptor antagonist Anakinra (Kineret; Amgen) were added 1 h before Pg where indicated. U937 cells were matured for 1 h using 50 ng/ml PMA before infection with Pg.
Bacterial culture
Pg strain A7436 was cultured anaerobically (3) and E. coli strain DH5
aerobically until late exponential phase (OD 0.81.2 at 660 nm). Aliquots were frozen in medium containing 20% glycerol at 80°C.
Real-time PCR
Real-time PCR was performed as previously described (18) using the following primers, listed as (forward, reverse): ASC (AACCCAAGCAAGATGCGGAAG, TTAGGGCCTGGAGGAGCAAG); IL-1
(ACAGTGGCAATGAGGATGAC, CCATGGCCACAACAACTGA); IL-6 (GTGCCTCTTTGCTGCTTTCAC, GGTACATCCTCGACGGCATCT); IL-8 (TCTCTTGGCAGCCTTCCTGA, TTCTGTGTTGGCGCAGTGTG); TNF (CTCTTCTGCCTGCTGCACTT, GGCTACAGGCTTGTCACTC); and 18s (CGGCTACCACATCCAAGG, GCTGCTGGCACCAGACTT). Values represent averages + SD of triplicates for RNA isolated on different days standardized to 18s rRNA expression.
Western blot analyses
Immunoblots were performed using Abs APO-25N-014-R100 (Immuno-Diagnostic) for ASC, sc-109 for total p65 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology), and mAb 374 (Chemicon International) for GAPDH nos. 2022, 9242, and 3031S (Cell Signaling Technology) for IL-1
, I
B, and phospho-p65 (Ser536). All results are representative of three independent experiments
Preparation of shRNA plasmids and cell lines for ASC knockdown
Plasmids for shRNA expression were made by inserting a histone H1 promoter, shRNA, and termination sequence into a GFP-containing pHSPG retroviral shuttle vector. Detailed methods for shRNA production have been described previously (18). The shRNA target sequences are as follows: shASC#1-GCTCTTCAGTTTCACACCA; mutshASC#1-GCTCTTCctggcCACACCA; and shASCi#2-CCTGGAACTGGACCTGCAA. pHSPG-shmPlex has been described previously (19). IFN response was not activated by shRNA as assessed by OAS1 expression.
ELISA
Supernatants were assessed 1824 h, following stimulation using human ELISA sets (BD Biosciences). Samples were assayed within linear range. IGF-1 was assayed using the human IGF-1 Quantikine ELISA kit (R&D Systems). All values represent averages + SD of triplicates from different days of stimulation.
EMSA and supershift analysis
EMSA was performed as described previously (20). Competition assays were done using 20x oligonucleotide corresponding to the consensus for NF-
B (19) or Oct-1 (TTCTAGTGATTTGCATTCGACA) (IDT). For supershift analysis, samples were subsequently incubated with preimmune sera (Vector Laboratories) or Abs specific to RelB (C-19), NF-
B p50 (N-19), c-Rel (N-466), NF-
B p52 (447), or p65 (A) (Santa Cruz Biotechnology).
| Results and Discussion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
RNA was isolated from THP1 cells following a time course of infection with Pg. Pg induces expression of IL-1
and IL-8 peaking at 2 h postinfection and IL-6 peaking at 624 h (Fig. 1A, first three panels). Expression of ASC mRNA was initially stable but dropped dramatically by 6 h postinfection, while ASC protein was easily detectable up to 18 h postinfection (Fig. 1, A, bottom panel, and B). This finding indicates that ASC expression in Pg-infected cells is sustained until cytokines are induced. Later reduction in ASC could serve as a mechanism for shutting down inflammation, thus avoiding overzealous immune response. These observations are in contrast to increased ASC expression reported by another group using E. coli LPS as a stimulant (11). Differences could be due to the use of different infectious agents as Pg causes a chronic disorder, but also may be due to their use of TPA to differentiate the cells before stimulation. Nevertheless, the dynamic range of ASC expression is consistent with a role of ASC in the induction of inflammatory cytokines.
|
induction by live Pg is reduced in ASC knockdown cellsTo determine the function of human ASC, we prepared two knockdown cell lines expressing shRNA that target ASC at different sites (shASC#1 and shASC#2) and compared expression against THP1 cells and control lines expressing empty vector, shRNA against mouse plexin (shmPlex) (19), or a 5-bp mutant version of shASC#1 (mutshASC#1). shASC#1 represents a near complete knockdown of ASC expression, and shASC#2 represents >70% knockdown at both the RNA and protein level (Fig. 2, A and B).
|
in mouse macrophages in response to TLR agonists and at least three pathogens known to signal through TLR (12, 21, 22). To determine whether ASC is required for IL-1
induction by live Pg, Western blot analysis was performed. Pro-IL-1
was detected 4 h after Pg infection, and cleaved IL-1
was apparent by 7 h in control THP1 and mutshASC#1 cell lines (Fig. 2C, first six lanes). Levels of pro-IL-1
were reduced in shASC#1, and cleaved IL-1
was undetectable (lanes 79). The reduced pro-IL-1
suggests that ASC may regulate IL-1
both at the level of processing and at a level before processing. For shASC#2, which has a less dramatic knockdown of ASC (
70%), pro-IL-1
was modestly reduced, and cleaved IL-1
was absent (lanes 1012). These findings are consistent with other studies indicating that ASC can have differing effects depending on dose (11, 12). Reduced IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF in ASC knockdown cells in response to TLR agonists and Pg
Previous studies in mice demonstrate a role for ASC in the induction of IL-1
, but not TNF-
, by Francisella tularensis, L. monocytogenes, and a panel of TLR agonists (17, 21, 22). To test if ASC is required for the induction of additional inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in human cells, supernatants from Pg-infected THP1 cells were assessed by ELISA. Our results demonstrated that in addition to IL-1
, high-level induction of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF by Pg required ASC, while the expression of IGF-1 was ASC independent (Fig. 3A). The role for ASC in cytokine induction is broad, as we observed reduced cytokine levels in ASC shRNA cells induced by live E. coli, the synthetic TLR2 agonist Pam3Cys; purified Pg LPS, which signals through TLR2, and to a lesser extent TLR4 and TLR1 (2, 3); the TLR4 agonist E. coli LPS; and the TLR5 agonist flagellin (Fig. 3B). ASC is required at the level of transcription and over a time course of Pg induction (Fig. 3C). Moreover, similar findings with shRNA in another human monocytic cell line, U937, indicate broad applicability (Fig. 3D). ASC is thought to regulate IL-1
expression by regulating caspase-1. However, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF are not known to be regulated by this pathway. These results suggest that ASC exhibits caspase-1-independent functions.
|
or caspase-1 activity
IL-1
can induce cytokine expression by autocrine stimulation (23). To test the possibility that ASC-dependent cytokine production is due to autocrine stimulation by IL-1
, cells were exposed to 20 ng/ml rIL-1
, a level 1050 times higher than secreted in Pg-infected THP1 cells. Even at this exaggerated level, IL-1
stimulated <3000 pg/ml IL-8 (Fig. 4A, first two bars). This is <1/200 the amount of IL-8 that was stimulated by Pg infection (compare Fig. 4A vs Figs. 3, A and B, and 4B). This finding suggests that levels of secondary induction of IL-8 by IL-1
in THP1 cells are not appreciable.
|
, cells were pretreated with the IL-1 receptor antagonist Anakinra (24). As expected, Anakinra completely blocked induction of IL-8 by rIL-1
(Fig. 4A, bars 3 and 4). Anakinra did not affect IL-8 or IL-6 levels in response to Pg (Fig. 4, B and C), indicating that the reduced induction of IL-6 and IL-8 in ASC knockdown cells cannot be explained by an IL-1
feedback mechanism.
To corroborate these findings, THP1 cells were pretreated with the caspase inhibitors VAD-fmk or YVAD-cmk, which would be expected to block IL-1
maturation (Fig. 5). The induction of IL-1
was reduced by both inhibitors, whereas DMSO had no effect (top panel). Induction of IL-6 and IL-8 by Pg was not affected by either inhibitor. Thus, effects on IL-6 and IL-8 induction are caspase independent, and autocrine activation by IL-1
does not play a significant role in the induction of IL-6 and IL-8 by Pg.
|
B activation
NF-
B is activated in response to many infectious agents and is known to contribute to periodontitis (25). EMSA was performed to determine whether Pg activates NF-
B in THP1 cells. A shifted band was observed in extracts from Pg-infected cells (Fig. 6A, lane 2). This band was supershifted by Abs to both the p50 and p65 forms of NF-
B but not an isotype control Ab (lanes 35). Complexes were competed by unlabeled oligomer for NF-
B but not Oct-1 (lanes 6 and 7).
|
B activation in control and ASC knockdown cells, EMSA was repeated over a time course of Pg infection (Fig. 6B). NF-
B was activated in both mutshASC#1 and shASC#1 cells. However, NF-
B binding activity was reproducibly less in shASC#1 cells at all time points. Consistently, shASC cells display delayed I
B degradation and p65 phosphorylation in response to Pg (Fig. 6C). Reduced release of NF-
B from I
B in ASC knockdown cells could explain the lower levels of secreted cytokines in Pg-stimulated shASC THP1 and U937 cells.
In summary, we used two shRNA and multiple specificity controls to show that ASC plays a crucial role in IL-1
induction by Pg infection and a host of other microbial products. Most importantly, we find that ASC enhances induction of other cytokines via a caspase-1, IL-1
-independent pathway(s). The latter finding reveals new functions for ASC in human cells that were not revealed in previous mouse studies. Reduced cytokine expression is correlated with diminished NF-
B activity; however, other mechanisms remain to be revealed. Effects on MAPK or other signaling pathways also could potentially contribute to the reduction in cytokine levels, and these possibilities are currently under investigation.
| Disclosures |
|---|
|
|
|---|
| Footnotes |
|---|
1 This work is supported by National Institutes of Health Grants DK38108, DE16326, AI63031, and AI57175. ![]()
2 Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Jenny Pan-Yun Ting, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599. E-mail address: panyun{at}med.unc.edu ![]()
3 Abbreviations used in this paper: Pg, Porphyromonas gingivalis; ASC, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain; shRNA, short hairpin RNA. ![]()
Received for publication January 20, 2006. Accepted for publication July 27, 2006.
| References |
|---|
|
|
|---|
processing in monocytes. Nature 356: 768-774. [Medline]
. Mol. Cell 10: 417-426. [Medline]
B activation pathways. J. Exp. Med. 196: 1605-1615.
B, via ASC oligomerization. Cell Death Differ. 13: 236-249.
B. J. Biol. Chem. 277: 11570-11575.
B and caspase-1-dependent cytokine processing. J. Biol. Chem. 277: 29874-29880.
B and caspase-8-dependent apoptosis. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 303: 69-73. [Medline]
B determines between apoptosis and proliferation in hepatocytes during liver regeneration. Am. J. Physiol. 278: G173-G183.
/IL-18 secretion in response to Listeria monocytogenes. J. Immunol. 176: 4337-4342.
from isolated human adipocytes. Cytokine 21: 32-37. [Medline]
B (NF-
B) in inflammation, periodontitis, and atherogenesis. Ann. Periodontol. 6: 20-29. [Medline]This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
M. A. Eskan, M. R. Benakanakere, B. G. Rose, P. Zhang, J. Zhao, P. Stathopoulou, D. Fujioka, and D. F. Kinane Interleukin-1{beta} Modulates Proinflammatory Cytokine Production in Human Epithelial Cells Infect. Immun., May 1, 2008; 76(5): 2080 - 2089. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Zhang, B. Marshall, and S. S. Atherton Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection and Apoptosis in Organotypic Retinal Cultures Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., January 1, 2008; 49(1): 295 - 303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |