Alpha4 beta7 integrin controls Th17 cell trafficking in the spinal cord leptomeninges during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Th1 and Th17 cell migration into the central nervous system (CNS) is a fundamental process in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS). Particularly, leptomeningeal vessels of the subarachnoid space (SAS) constitute a central route for T cell entry into the CNS during EAE. Once migrated into the SAS, T cells show an active motility behavior, which is a prerequisite for cell-cell communication, reactivation and neuroinflammation.

LFA-1 Controls Th1 and Th17 Motility Behavior in the Inflamed Central Nervous System.

Leukocyte trafficking is a key event during autoimmune and inflammatory responses. The subarachnoid space (SAS) and cerebrospinal fluid are major routes for the migration of encephalitogenic T cells into the central nervous system (CNS) during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of multiple sclerosis, and are sites of T cell activation before the invasion of CNS parenchyma. In particular, autoreactive Th1 and Th17 cell trafficking and reactivation in the CNS are required for the pathogenesis of EAE.

Blockade of α4 integrins reduces leukocyte-endothelial interactions in cerebral vessels and improves memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline associated with the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, and neuronal loss. Vascular inflammation and leukocyte trafficking may contribute to AD pathogenesis, and a better understanding of these inflammation mechanisms could therefore facilitate the development of new AD therapies. Here we show that T cells extravasate in the proximity of cerebral VCAM-1 vessels in 3xTg-AD transgenic mice, which develop both Aβ and tau pathologies.

NETosis in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive deterioration of cognitive functions. Its neuropathological features include amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation, the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, and the loss of neurons and synapses. Neuroinflammation is a well-established feature of AD pathogenesis, and a better understanding of its mechanisms could facilitate the development of new therapeutic approaches.

Neutrophils promote Alzheimer's disease-like pathology and cognitive decline via LFA-1 integrin.

Inflammation is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, and innate immune cells have been shown to contribute to disease pathogenesis. In two transgenic models of Alzheimer's disease (5xFAD and 3xTg-AD mice), neutrophils extravasated and were present in areas with amyloid-β (Aβ) deposits, where they released neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and IL-17. Aβ42 peptide triggered the LFA-1 integrin high-affinity state and rapid neutrophil adhesion to integrin ligands.

TIM-1 glycoprotein binds the adhesion receptor P-selectin and mediates T cell trafficking during inflammation and autoimmunity.

Selectins play a central role in leukocyte trafficking by mediating tethering and rolling on vascular surfaces. Here we have reported that T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 (TIM-1) is a P-selectin ligand. We have shown that human and murine TIM-1 binds to P-selectin, and that TIM-1 mediates tethering and rolling of T helper 1 (Th1) and Th17, but not Th2 and regulatory T cells on P-selectin.

Regulatory T cells suppress the late phase of the immune response in lymph nodes through P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) maintain tolerance toward self-antigens and suppress autoimmune diseases, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. In this study, we show that mice deficient for P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) develop a more severe form of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis than wild type animals do, suggesting that PSGL-1 has a role in the negative regulation of autoimmunity. We found that Tregs lacking PSGL-1 were unable to suppress experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and failed to inhibit T cell proliferation in vivo in the lymph nodes.

Astrocytes regulate the expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1-R) in primary cortical neurons during in vitro senescence.

The role of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) pathway as regulator of aging and age-related diseases is increasingly recognized. Recent evidence has been provided that neuronal IGF1-R increases during aging leading to activation of a signaling pathway that causes an increased production of amyloid beta-peptide, the principal event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Here, by using long-term neuronal cultures as a model of aging, we show that astroglial cells are required to upregulate the expression of IGF1-R in neurons during in vitro senescence.

The expression of p75 neurotrophin receptor protects against the neurotoxicity of soluble oligomers of beta-amyloid.

In this paper, evidence is provided that p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) exerts an opposite role on the cytotoxic function of beta-amyloid (Abeta) depending on the different state of the peptide, fibrillar or oligomeric soluble form. Previous work in our laboratory has shown that the expression of p75NTR is required for cell death in vitro by Abeta peptides in fibrillar form (G. Perini, V.

Characterization of the signaling pathway downstream p75 neurotrophin receptor involved in beta-amyloid peptide-dependent cell death.

The accumulation of beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptide is a key pathogenic event in Alzheimer's disease. Previous studies have shown that Abeta peptide can damage neurons by activating the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). However, the signaling pathway leading to neuronal cell death is not completely understood.

Role of p75 neurotrophin receptor in the neurotoxicity by beta-amyloid peptides and synergistic effect of inflammatory cytokines.

The neurodegenerative changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are elicited by the accumulation of beta-amyloid peptides (Abeta), which damage neurons either directly by interacting with components of the cell surface to trigger cell death signaling or indirectly by activating astrocytes and microglia to produce inflammatory mediators. It has been recently proposed that the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)) is responsible for neuronal damage by interacting with Abeta. By using neuroblastoma cell clones lacking the expression of all neurotrophin receptors or engineered to express full-length or various truncated forms of p75(NTR), we could show that p75(NTR) is involved in the direct signaling of cell death by Abeta via the function of its death domain.

Neurotrophin p75 receptor is involved in neuronal damage by prion peptide-(106-126).

In this work we have investigated the molecular basis of the neuronal damage induced by the prion peptide by searching for a surface receptor whose activation could be the first step of a cascade of events responsible for cell death. By using a human neuroblastoma cell line lacking all the neurotrophin receptors and derived clones expressing the full-length or truncated forms of the low affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)), we have been able to demonstrate that the neuronal death induced by the prion protein fragment PrP-(106-126) is an active process mediated by a) the binding of the peptide to the extracellular region of p75(NTR), b) the signaling function of the intracytoplasmic region of the receptor, and c) the activation of caspase-8 and the production of oxidant species.

Mechanisms of expression of NADPH oxidase components in human cultured monocytes: role of cytokines and transcriptional regulators involved.

Human blood monocytes lose their capability to produce microbicidal oxidants during culture. We report that this process is associated with decreased gp91phox, p22phox and p47phox expression, release of PU.1 and CP-1 from gp91phox promoter, and PU.

The neutrophil-activating protein (HP-NAP) of Helicobacter pylori is a protective antigen and a major virulence factor.

Helicobacter pylori infection induces the appearance of inflammatory infiltrates, consisting mainly of neutrophils and monocytes, in the human gastric mucosa. A bacterial protein with neutrophil activating activity (HP-NAP) has been previously identified, but its role in infection and immune response is still largely unknown. Here, we show that vaccination of mice with HP-NAP induces protection against H.

beta-amyloid activates the O-2 forming NADPH oxidase in microglia, monocytes, and neutrophils. A possible inflammatory mechanism of neuronal damage in Alzheimer's disease.

The deposition of beta-amyloid in the brain is the key pathogenetic event in Alzheimer's disease. Among the various mechanisms proposed to explain the neurotoxicity of beta-amyloid deposits, a new one, recently identified in our and other laboratories, suggests that beta-amyloid is indirectly neurotoxic by activating microglia to produce toxic inflammatory mediators such as cytokines, nitric oxide, and oxygen free radicals. Three findings presented here support this mechanism, showing that beta-amyloid peptides (25-35), (1-39), and (1-42) activated the classical NADPH oxidase in rat primary culture of microglial cells and human phagocytes: 1) The exposure of the cells to beta-amyloid peptides stimulates the production of reactive oxygen intermediates; 2) the stimulation is associated with the assembly of the cytosolic components of NADPH oxidase on the plasma membrane, the process that corresponds to the activation of the enzyme; 3) neutrophils and monocytes of chronic granulomatous disease patients do not respond to beta-amyloid peptides with the stimulation of reactive oxygen intermediate production.

Mechanisms of stimulation of the respiratory burst by TNF in nonadherent neutrophils: its independence of lipidic transmembrane signaling and dependence on protein tyrosine phosphorylation and cytoskeleton.

This study concerns the controversial problem of whether the TNF-alpha (TNF) induces a respiratory burst in human neutrophils in suspension. The results have shown that in these cells TNF induces a classical respiratory burst. In fact, the production of oxygen free radicals 1) is linked to the translocation of NADPH oxidase components from cytosol to the plasma membrane, 2) does not take place in neutrophils from a patient lacking the cytochrome b558, and 3) does not involve other sources such as mitochondrial respiratory chain or xanthine oxidase.

Role of 55- and 75-kDa TNF receptors in the potentiation of Fc-mediated phagocytosis in human neutrophils.

Human neutrophils respond with an increased phagocytosis when exposed to TNF. Two types of TNF receptors have been identified, namely 55 kDa (TR55) and 75 kDa (TR75). We addressed the problem of the role of these receptors in the priming effect of TNF.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma 2 is involved in the activation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis by Fc receptors in human neutrophils.

The stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis by a number of agonists (phosphoinositide response) is a ubiquitous transmembrane signalling process for the regulation of several cell functions. Two mechanisms of activation have been identified that involve different phospholipases C: one regulated by G-proteins and another regulated by receptors having an intrinsic tyrosine kinase domain or that stimulate intracellular tyrosine kinase activity. This last mechanism is activated in several immunological cells, including lymphocytes, mastocytes, NK cells and monocytes, in response to agonists that bind antigen receptors, and receptors for IgE and IgG.

In human neutrophils the binding to immunocomplexes induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of Fc gamma RII but this phosphorylation is not an essential signal for Fc-mediated phagocytosis.

It has been recently suggested that protein tyrosine phosphorylation is involved in Fc gamma Rs-mediated signalling. In this paper we have investigated if in human neutrophils a tyrosine phosphorylation of Fc gamma RII takes places after the binding with immunocomplexes and if this phosphorylation plays a role in phagocytic signal. The immunoprecipitation with mAb anti-Fc gamma RII of lysates of neutrophils challenged in suspension with insoluble immunocomplexes (IIC) or sheep erythrocytes opsonized with IgG (E-IgG), followed by immunoblotting with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody, demonstrated that Fc gamma RII was tyrosine phosphorylated.

Formation of inositol (1,4,5) trisphosphate and increase of cytosolic Ca2+ mediated by Fc receptors in human neutrophils.

The correlation between the increase of [Ca2+]i and the activation of hydrolysis of phosphoinositide-4,5-bisphosphate and formation of inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate in neutrophils treated with Fc receptor-binding agonists is still under discussion. In this communication evidence is presented supporting the conclusion that, as it is widely accepted for the activation of other receptors, also upon the activation of Fc receptors the stimulation of the production of inositol(1,4,5) trisphosphate is involved in the increase in [Ca2+]i. In fact: i) treatment of neutrophils with immune complexes induced a very rapid phosphoinositide hydrolysis measured as [3H]inositol phosphates production from [3H]phosphoinositides and as inositol(1,4,5) trisphosphate formation measured with radioreceptor assay, ii) immune complexes caused a dose-dependent increase of [Ca2+]i; iii) the increase of [Ca2+]i correlated with the production of inositol(1,4,5) trisphosphate with respect to time course, dose dependence and pertussis toxin insensitivity.

The potentiation by TNF-alpha and PMA of Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis in neutrophils is independent of reactive oxygen metabolites produced by NADPH oxidase and of protein kinase C.

The results presented in this paper demonstrate that the potentiation of phagocytosis of erythrocyte (E) IgG by TNF-alpha or PMA is not due to an oxygen-dependent mechanism. In fact, the potentiation of phagocytosis occurs normally in human neutrophils 1) when the respiratory burst is inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium, 2) in conditions where the reactive oxygen metabolites produced by the activation of NADPH oxidase, that accompanies the phagocytosis, were removed by catalase or superoxide dismutase, 3) of a patient lacking NADPH oxidase activity due to a genetic defect of p67-phox, 4) treated with staurosporine which allowed PMA to potentiate the ingestion of E-IgG at concentrations which inhibited the activation of the respiratory burst. Evidence is also presented that staurosporine not only did not inhibit, but amplified the potentiation of phagocytosis by PMA and TNF-alpha.

Transmembrane signaling pathways involved in phagocytosis and associated activation of NADPH oxidase mediated by Fc gamma Rs in human neutrophils.

We have previously shown that in neutrophils classical transmembrane signaling consisting of increased [Ca2+]i and hydrolysis of phospholipids was not essential for phagocytosis mediated by more than one receptor (yeast-IgG, yeast-C3b/bi, yeast-Con A). This work deals with the role of this transmembrane signaling in phagocytosis of erythrocyte (E) IgG, which is mediated only by receptors for IgG (Fc gamma Rs). The ingestion of E-IgG was associated with an increase in [Ca2+]i and production of inositol phosphates, phosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol, and arachidonic acid, via activation of phospholipases C, D and A2.

Relationship between phosphorylation and translocation to the plasma membrane of p47phox and p67phox and activation of the NADPH oxidase in normal and Ca(2+)-depleted human neutrophils.

Stimulation of neutrophils with different agonists activates a latent multicomponent NADPH oxidase that reduces molecular oxygen to superoxide anion. Evidence has accumulated that phosphorylation of p47phox (the 47 kDa cytosolic phagocyte oxidase factor) and translocation of the two cytosolic components p47phox and p67phox are essential steps in the activation of NADPH oxidase in response to phorbol esters. We analysed the relationships between activation of the NADPH oxidase and phosphorylation and translocation of p47phox and p67phox in normal and Ca(2+)-depleted neutrophils stimulated by the receptor-mediated agonists formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and concanavalin A.

Source and role of diacylglycerol formed during phagocytosis of opsonized yeast particles and associated respiratory burst in human neutrophils.

The results presented in this paper demonstrate that in human neutrophils phagocytosis of C3b/bi and IgG-opsonized yeast particles is associated with activation of phospholipase D and that this reaction is the main source of diglycerides. The demonstration is based upon the following findings: 1) the challenge of neutrophils with these opsonized particles was followed by a rapid formation of [3H]alkyl-phosphatidic acid [( 3H]alkyl-PA) and [3H]alkyl-diglyceride [( 3H]alkyl-DG) in cells labeled with [3H]alkyl-lyso-phosphatidylcholine; 2) in the presence of ethanol [3H]alkyl-phosphatidylethanol was formed, and accumulation of [3H]alkyl-PA and [3H]alkyl-DG was depressed; 3) propranolol, by inhibiting the dephosphorylation of [3H]alkyl-PA, completely inhibited the accumulation of [3H]alkyl-DG and depressed by about 75% the formation of diglyceride mass. Evidence is also presented that phagocytosis of C3b/bi and IgG-opsonized yeast particles and associated respiratory burst can take place independently of diglyceride formation and of the activity of this second messenger on protein kinase C.

De novo synthesis of diacylglycerol from glucose. A new pathway of signal transduction in human neutrophils stimulated during phagocytosis of beta-glucan particles.

The phagocytosis of beta-glucan particles by human neutrophils and the associated activation of NADPH O2- forming oxidase were accompanied by an increased hydrolysis of phosphoinositides by phospholipase C, hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine by phospholipase D, accumulation of diglyceride (DG) mass, and [Ca2+]i rise. The reaction of phospholipid hydrolysis played a minor role in the formation of DG, which was mainly formed by de novo synthesis from glucose. The activation of this pathway was shown by the stimulation of the incorporation of [U-14C]glucose into DG, which occurred very rapidly after the challenge of neutrophils with beta-glucan particles.