Project description:Transcription profiling of human peripheral blood monocytes treated with simvastatin reveals it has an anti-inflammatory effect on macrophages via upregulation of Kruppel-like factor-2
Project description:HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, statins, have beneficial vascular effects beyond their cholesterol-lowering action. These pleiotropic effects include an anti-inflammatory effect on macrophages. Since macrophages play a central role in atherogenesis, we further characterized the effects on peripheral blood monocyte-macrophages (HPBM). Using Affymetrix gene chip analysis of simvastatin-treated HPBM, we found that simvastatin treatment lead to the downregulation of the expression of many proinflammatory genes including several chemokines (e.g. MCP-1, MIP-1 alpha and β, RANTES, several other CC and CXC chemokines, IL-2 receptor-β, and leukemia inhibitory factor), members of the tumor necrosis factor family (e.g. lymphotoxin beta and TRAIL), VCAM-1, ICAM-3, and tissue factor (TF). Simvastatin also modulated the expression of several transcription factors essential for the inflammatory response: simvastatin downregulated the expression of NF-kappaB relA/p65 subunit and ets-1 transcription factor, and upregulated the expression of a novel atheroprotective transcription factor, Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF-2). The effects of simvastatin on KLF-2 and its target genes were dependent on protein prenylation, since inhibitors of protein prenylation had a similar inhibitory effect in THP-1 derived macrophages. Additionally, by lentiviral overexpression KLF-2 we showed that the effect of simvastatin on MCP-1 and TF were dependent on KLF-2. We concluded that simvastatin had a strong anti-inflammatory effect on macrophages, which includes upregulation of the atheroprotective transcription factor KLF-2. These findings further explain the beneficial pleiotropic effects of statins on cardiovascular diseases. Keywords: time-course, response to treatment
Project description:HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, statins, have beneficial vascular effects beyond their cholesterol-lowering action. These pleiotropic effects include an anti-inflammatory effect on macrophages. Since macrophages play a central role in atherogenesis, we further characterized the effects on peripheral blood monocyte-macrophages (HPBM). Using Affymetrix gene chip analysis of simvastatin-treated HPBM, we found that simvastatin treatment lead to the downregulation of the expression of many proinflammatory genes including several chemokines (e.g. MCP-1, MIP-1 alpha and β, RANTES, several other CC and CXC chemokines, IL-2 receptor-β, and leukemia inhibitory factor), members of the tumor necrosis factor family (e.g. lymphotoxin beta and TRAIL), VCAM-1, ICAM-3, and tissue factor (TF). Simvastatin also modulated the expression of several transcription factors essential for the inflammatory response: simvastatin downregulated the expression of NF-kappaB relA/p65 subunit and ets-1 transcription factor, and upregulated the expression of a novel atheroprotective transcription factor, Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF-2). The effects of simvastatin on KLF-2 and its target genes were dependent on protein prenylation, since inhibitors of protein prenylation had a similar inhibitory effect in THP-1 derived macrophages. Additionally, by lentiviral overexpression KLF-2 we showed that the effect of simvastatin on MCP-1 and TF were dependent on KLF-2. We concluded that simvastatin had a strong anti-inflammatory effect on macrophages, which includes upregulation of the atheroprotective transcription factor KLF-2. These findings further explain the beneficial pleiotropic effects of statins on cardiovascular diseases. Experiment Overall Design: Cell culture studies. Experiment Overall Design: Human peripheral blood monocytes (HPBM) were isolated from buffy coats from healthy blood-donor volunteers (Finnish Red Cross, Helsinki, Finland) using Ficoll-Paque gradient centrifugation. None of the blood donors were on statin therapy. During isolation, monocytes from 3 individuals were pooled. Adherent cells were cultured in standard medium (20% human serum, Cambrex for differentiation into macrophages. The macrophage-phenotype at day 7 after isolation was confirmed with the typical shape of macrophages and also by macrophage-immunostaining (mAB CD68, DAKO, Denmark, dilution 1:200), where macrophages presented >95% of the cell population. The study protocol has been accepted by the Ethical Committee of the University of Kuopio. Experiment Overall Design: Simvastatin treatment. Experiment Overall Design: Simvastatin was a generous gift from Merck & Co. The inactive lactone form of simvastatin was hydrolyzed to the corresponding β-hydroxy acid. The HPBM-macrophages were treated with statin at day 7 after the isolation. 12 hours prior to statin treatment the cell growth media were changed to serum-free media. The statin-treated (10 uM simvastatin in serum-free media) cells were collected at 12 h and 24 h for Affymetrix analyses. The toxicity of simvastatin was assessed in cell culture: 5x concentration of simvastatin (50 uM) had no effect on cell viability. Experiment Overall Design: RNA isolation. Experiment Overall Design: Total RNA was isolated from the cells using Trizol reagent (Gibco BRL, USA) according to manufacturersâ?? instructions. The quality and amount of RNA was assessed by spectrophotometry (NanoDrop, USA) and by agarose gel electrophoresis. Experiment Overall Design: Microarray analyses. Experiment Overall Design: For Affymetrix analyses three separate HPBM cell isolation and simvastatin experiments were performed (HPBMs from 3 individuals at each time, total n=9). Cells were collected at 12 h and 24 h after the statin treatment. Total RNA was isolated as above. cDNAs were prepared from RNAs (5 ug of RNA) with reverse transcriptase (Superscript II primed by a poly (T) oligomer/T7 promoter). cDNAs were subsequently used as a template to make biotin-labeled cRNA with an in vitro transcription reaction. cRNAs (15 ug) were hybridized to Affymetrix HGU133 Plus 2.0 oligonucleotide arrays, which was processed and scanned according to manufacturerâ??s instructions. Each array quantifies the expression of over 47 000 transcripts (including full-length mRNA sequences and expressed sequence tags) derived from build 133 of the UniGene database (available at www.affymetrix.com). Experiment Overall Design: Microarray data analysis. Experiment Overall Design: Affymetrix GeneChip® Operating Software (GCOS) was used to generate .CEL files which were then converted into .DCP files using dChip (http://www.dchip.org) V1.3 software 28. The arrays were normalized to baseline array with median probe intensity, and gene expression data were generated calculating model-based expression values. In this study, genes were considered differentially expressed if they changed more than 1.5-fold (90% confidence bound of the fold change), absolute difference of signals was >100, at least 40% of the samples were called present in both groups and False Discovery Rate (FDR) was less than 1%. Hierarchical clustering was performed by dChip using Pearson correlation with a centroid-linkage method. Gene function analysis was performed by using the gene ontology mining tool GoSurfer incorporated in dChip program.
Project description:Analysis of the effect of all available statins (atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin, cerivastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, and pitavastatin) on the expression of genes in human cell cultures to investigate potential anti-inflammatory effect during COVID-19 disease. Transcription profiling was done using microarray assay.
Project description:The RELMα+ macrophage phenotype associates with the presence of anti-inflammatory macrophages and work in other model systems has demonstrated that the balance of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory macrophages is critically important in enabling the resolution of inflammation. Moreover, in the context of type 2 immunity, RELMα+ anti-inflammatory macrophages are associated with the activation of macrophages via the IL4Ra. Despite a breadth of inflammatory pathologies associated with the large intestine, including those that accompany parasitic infection, it is not known about how large intestinal macrophages are activated towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype.
Project description:Glucocorticoids are widely used to treat inflammatory disorders. Prolonged use results in side effects including osteoporosis, diabetes and obesity. The selective glucocorticoid receptor (GR) modulator Compound A (CpdA) exhibits an inflammation-suppressive effect, largely in absence of detrimental side effects. To understand the mechanistic differences between the classic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) and CpdA, we looked for proteins oppositely regulated using an unbiased proteomics approach. We found that the autophagy receptor p62 but not GR mediates the anti-inflammatory action of CpdA in macrophages. CpdA drives the upregulation of p62 by recruiting the NRF2 transcription factor to its promoter. Contrarily, the classic GR ligand dexamethasone recruits GR to p62 and other NRF2 controlled gene promoters, resulting in gene downregulation. Both DEX and CpdA are able to induce autophagy, albeit in a cell-type and time-dependent manner. Suppression of LPS-induced IL-6 and MCP1 genes in bone marrow-derived macrophages by CpdA is hampered upon p62 silencing, confirming that p62 is essential for the anti-inflammatory capacity of CpdA. Together, these results demonstrate how off-target mechanisms of selective GR ligands may establish a more efficient anti-inflammatory therapy
Project description:Glucocorticoids are widely used to treat inflammatory disorders; however, prolonged use of glucocorticoids results in side effects including osteoporosis, diabetes and obesity. Compound A (CpdA), identified as a selective NR3C1/glucocorticoid receptor (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1) modulator, exhibits an inflammation-suppressive effect, largely in the absence of detrimental side effects. To understand the mechanistic differences between the classic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) and CpdA, we looked for proteins oppositely regulated in bone marrow-derived macrophages using an unbiased proteomics approach. We found that the autophagy receptor SQSTM1 but not NR3C1 mediates the anti-inflammatory action of CpdA. CpdA drives SQSTM1 upregulation by recruiting the NFE2L2 transcription factor to its promoter. In contrast, the classic NR3C1 ligand dexamethasone recruits NR3C1 to the Sqstm1 promoter and other NFE2L2-controlled gene promoters, resulting in gene downregulation. Both DEX and CpdA induce autophagy, with marked different autophagy characteristics and morphology. Suppression of LPS-induced Il6 and Ccl2 genes by CpdA in macrophages is hampered upon Sqstm1 silencing, confirming that SQSTM1 is essential for the anti-inflammatory capacity of CpdA, at least in this cell type. Together, these results demonstrate how off-target mechanisms of selective NR3C1 ligands may contribute to a more efficient anti-inflammatory therapy.
Project description:Background Simvastatin modulates numerous stem cell functions, including stemness maintenance and differentiation. The present study aimed to explore the effect of simvastatin on the osteogenic differentiation of SCAPs in vitro. Methods Cells were isolated from apical papilla, and mesenchymal stem cell features were characterised. Cells were treated with various concentrations of simvastatin (100-1,000 nM). The mRNA expression profile of simvastatin-treated SCAPs was examined using RNA sequencing technique. The osteogenic differentiation abilities were assessed. Alkaline phosphatase activity was determined. The mineralisation was visualised using Alizarin Red S and Von Kossa staining. The osteogenic marker gene expression was determined using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results RNA sequencing data demonstrated that simvastatin upregulated genes enriched in those pathways involving osteogenic differentiation, including the TGF-beta signalling pathway, FoxO signalling pathway, and MAPK signalling pathway, while the downregulated genes were involved in pathways related to cell proliferation and apoptosis, for example, DNA replication, cell cycle, and p53 signalling pathway. Simvastatin promoted mineral deposition in a dose-dependent manner, corresponding with the upregulation of osteogenic marker genes namely OSX, DMP1, DSPP, and OCN. Pretreatment with TGF-beta receptor inhibitor, SB431542, resulted in a moderately attenuated effect on simvastatin-induced mineralisation and osteogenic marker gene expression. Conclusions Simvastatin enhances osteogenic differentiation in SCAPs, potentially via TGF-beta signalling, implicating its potential role as an adjunctive molecule in dental pulp healing and regeneration in vital pulp treatment approaches.
Project description:Statins protect against the development of atherosclerosis via cholesterol-dependent and –independent mechanisms. Understanding the molecular mechanisms mediating simvastatin induced atheroprotective effects is critical for designing anti-atherosclerotic agents. Here, we showed that simvastatin decreases the expression of the Polycomb methyltransferase EZH2 in endothelial cells. To better understand the influence of the simvastatin-induced EZH2 downregulation on endothelial transcriptome, we performed RNA-sequencing study to evaluate differential gene expression after overexpression of EZH2 in the presence of simvastatin treatment. We found simvastatin treatment altered a subset of genes that can be rescued with EZH2 overexpression. Therefore, simvastatin treated endothelial cells display an atheroprotective phenotype by downregulating EZH2.