Project description:Macrophages activated with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in combination with other proinflammatory stimuli, such as lipopolysaccharide or tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), respond with transcriptional and cellular changes that enhance clearance of intracellular pathogens at the risk of damaging tissues. IFN-γ effects must therefore be carefully balanced with inhibitory mechanisms to prevent immunopathology. We performed a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen in a macrophage cell line to identify negative regulators of IFN-γ responses. We discovered an unexpected role of the ubiquitin-fold modifier (Ufm1) conjugation system (herein UFMylation) in inhibiting responses to IFN-γ and lipopolysaccharide. Enhanced IFN-γ activation in UFMylation-deficient cells resulted in increased transcriptional responses to IFN-γ in a manner dependent on endoplasmic reticulum stress responses involving Ern1 and Xbp1. Furthermore, UFMylation in myeloid cells is required for resistance to influenza infection in mice, indicating that this pathway modulates in vivo responses to infection. These findings provide a genetic roadmap for the regulation of responses to a key mediator of cellular immunity and identify a molecular link between the UFMylation pathway and immune responses.
Project description:Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an intracellular pathogen of macrophages and escapes the macrophages' bactericidal effectors by interfering with phagosome-lysosome fusion. IFN-? activation renders the macrophages capable of killing intracellular mycobacteria by overcoming the phagosome maturation block, nutrient deprivation and exposure to microbicidal effectors including nitric oxide (NO). While the importance about NO for the control of mycobacterial infection in murine macrophages is well documented, the underlying mechanism has not been revealed yet. In this study we show that IFN-? induced apoptosis in mycobacteria-infected macrophages, which was strictly dependent on NO. Subsequently, NO-mediated apoptosis resulted in the killing of intracellular mycobacteria independent of autophagy. In fact, killing of mycobacteria was susceptible to the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA). However, 3-MA also suppressed NO production, which is an important off-target effect to be considered in autophagy studies using 3-MA. Inhibition of caspase 3/7 activation, as well as NO production, abolished apoptosis and elimination of mycobacteria by IFN-? activated macrophages. In line with the finding that drug-induced apoptosis kills intracellular mycobacteria in the absence of NO, we identified NO-mediated apoptosis as a new defense mechanism of activated macrophages against M. tuberculosis.
Project description:Macrophage activation is the main immunological process occurring during the development of several diseases, and the heterogeneity of macrophage activation or differentiation has been suggested to be involved in disease progression. In the present study, we attempted to identify molecules specifically expressed on human classically activated macrophages (M1) to investigate the significance of the M1-like phenotype in human diseases. Human monocyte-derived macrophages were differentiated into M1, M2a, M2b and M2c phenotypes, and also M1(-) (the M1 phenotype differentiated with interferon-γ) to eliminate the strong effects of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on the gene expression profile. The gene expression profiles of those macrophage phenotypes were analyzed by a cDNA microarray analysis and were used for a bioinformatics examination to identify the markers of the M1 phenotype that are expressed in both M1 and M1(-). The gene expression profiles of murine macrophages were also evaluated. We identified guanylate-binding protein 5 (GBP5), which is associated nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing gene family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)-mediated inflammasome assembly in the M1 macrophages of both humans and mice. Notably, the expression of GBP5 protein was detected in cultured M1(-) as well as in M1 macrophages by western blotting, which means that GBP5 is a more generalized marker of the M1 phenotype compared with the M1 markers that can be induced by LPS stimulation. GBP5 is a useful candidate marker of the M1 phenotype.
Project description:BackgroundWe hypothesized that acetylation of the Stat1 regulates interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) mediated macrophage expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).MethodsRAW 264.7 iNOS expression was induced with IFN-gamma. Deacetylase inhibitors trichostatin A (TSA) or valproic acid (VPA) were added. Stat1 and iNOS mRNA and protein were measured. Acetylated Stat1 was determined by immunoprecipitation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assessed in vivo binding of Stat1 to the iNOS promoter.ResultsIFN-gamma significantly increased nitrite, iNOS protein and iNOS mRNA, and iNOS promoter activation. (P < .01 vs control for nitrite, protein, and mRNA). TSA-mediated acetylation decreased these to levels that were not different from controls. IFN-gamma increased acetylated Stat1 by 5-fold (P < .02 vs control); TSA + IFN-gamma caused an additional 4-fold increase in acetylated Stat1 (P < .05 vs IFN alone). Stat1 binding to the iNOS promoter increased 8-fold with IFN-gamma (P < .01 vs control). In TSA + IFN-gamma, Stat1 binding was not different from controls. Although less potent than TSA, VPA also significantly decreased nitrite, iNOS protein, iNOS mRNA, Stat1 acetylation, and Stat1 binding.ConclusionsAcetylation of Stat1 protein correlates with decreased Stat1 binding to the iNOS promoter with resultant inhibition of IFN-gamma-mediated iNOS expression. Acetylation of the Stat1 protein may downregulate iNOS expression in proinflammatory states.