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Background and Aims Epithelial expression of the insulin receptor in the colon has previously been reported to correlate with extent of colonic inflammation. However,the impact of insulin signalling in the intestinal mucosa is still unknown. Here,we investigated the effects of inactivating the epithelial insulin receptor in the intestinal tract,in an experimental model of inflammation-induced colorectal cancer. Methods The mice were generated by utilizing the intestinal- and epithelial-specific villin promoter and the Cre-Lox technology. All mice included in the cohorts were generated by crossing [vil-Cre-INSR+/-] × [INSRfl/fl] to obtain [vil-Cre-INSR-/-],and their floxed littermates [INSRfl/fl] served as the control group. For the intervention study,phosphate-buffered saline with or without insulin was instilled rectally in anaesthetized wild-type mice with chemically induced colitis. Results We found higher endoscopic colitis scores together with potentiated colonic tumorigenesis in the knockout mice. Furthermore,we showed that topically administered insulin in inflamed colons of wild-type mice reduced inflammation-induced weight loss and improved remission in a dose-dependent manner. Mice receiving rectal insulin enemas exhibited lower colitis endoscopic scores and reduced cyclooxygenase 2 mRNA expression,and developed significantly fewer and smaller tumours compared with the control group receiving phosphate-buffered saline only. Conclusions Rectal insulin therapy could potentially be a novel treatment,targeting the epithelial layer to enhance mucosal healing in ulcerated areas. Our findings open up new possibilities for combination treatments to synergize with the existing anti-inflammatory therapies. View Publication

Human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can release exosomes; however,their specific functions remain elusive. In this study,we verified that exosomes derived from osteogenically differentiated ADSCs can promote osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs. Furthermore,in order to investigate the importance of exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) in osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs,we used microarray assays to analyze the expression profiles of exosomal miRNAs derived from undifferentiated as well as osteogenically differentiated ADSCs; 201 miRNAs were upregulated and 33 miRNAs were downregulated between the two types of exosomes. Additionally,bioinformatic analyses,which included gene ontology analyses,pathway analysis,and miRNA-mRNA-network investigations,were performed. The results of these analyses revealed that the differentially expressed exosomal miRNAs participate in multiple biological processes,such as gene expression,synthesis of biomolecules,cell development,differentiation,and signal transduction,among others. Moreover,we found that these differentially expressed exosomal miRNAs connect osteogenic differentiation to processes such as axon guidance,MAPK signaling,and Wnt signaling. To the best of our knowledge,this is the first study to identify and characterize exosomal miRNAs derived from osteogenically differentiated ADSCs. This study confirms that alterations in the expression of exosomal miRNAs can promote osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs,which also provides the foundation for further research on the regulatory functions of exosomal miRNAs in the context of ADSC osteogenesis. View Publication

Though lymphotoxin (LT) is highly expressed by type I helper T (Th1) cells,its contribution to CD4+ T cell differentiation during infections and diseases remains a mystery. In HSV-1 infection,we observed that LTbetaR signaling is required to limit the Th1 response. Using bone marrow chimeric mice,mixed-T-cell chimeric mice,and LTbetaR in vivo blockades,we unexpectedly observed that LT,especially T cell-derived LT,played an indispensable role in limiting the Th1 response. The LTbetaR-Ig blockade promoted the Th1 response by increasing infiltration of monocytes and monocyte-derived DCs and up-regulating IL-12 secretion in the lymphoid environment. Our findings identified a novel role for T cell-derived LT in manipulating Th1 differentiation. View Publication

Subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with cardiovascular diseases,yet the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Herein,in a common population (n = 1,103),TSH level was found to be independently correlated with both carotid plaque prevalence and intima-media thickness. Consistently,TSH receptor ablation in ApoE-/- mice attenuated atherogenesis,accompanied by decreased vascular inflammation and macrophage burden in atherosclerotic plaques. These results were also observed in myeloid-specific Tshr-deficient ApoE-/- mice,which indicated macrophages to be a critical target of the proinflammatory and atherogenic effects of TSH. In vitro experiments further revealed that TSH activated MAPKs (ERK1/2,p38alpha,and JNK) and IkappaB/p65 pathways in macrophages and increased inflammatory cytokine production and their recruitment of monocytes. Thus,the present study has elucidated the new mechanisms by which TSH,as an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis,aggravates vascular inflammation and contributes to atherogenesis. View Publication

Dysregulation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway is associated with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and its mouse model,Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE). Suppressors Of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) negatively regulate the JAK/STAT pathway. We previously reported a severe,brain-targeted,atypical form of EAE in mice lacking Socs3 in myeloid cells (Socs3DeltaLysM),which is associated with cerebellar neutrophil infiltration. There is emerging evidence that neutrophils are detrimental in the pathology of MS/EAE,however,their exact function is unclear. Here we demonstrate that neutrophils from the cerebellum of Socs3DeltaLysM mice show a hyper-activated phenotype with excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the peak of EAE. Neutralization of ROS in vivo delayed the onset and reduced severity of atypical EAE. Mechanistically,Socs3-deficient neutrophils exhibit enhanced STAT3 activation,a hyper-activated phenotype in response to G-CSF,and upon G-CSF priming,increased ROS production. Neutralization of G-CSF in vivo significantly reduced the incidence and severity of the atypical EAE phenotype. Overall,our work elucidates that hypersensitivity of G-CSF/STAT3 signaling in Socs3DeltaLysM mice leads to atypical EAE by enhanced neutrophil activation and increased oxidative stress,which may explain the detrimental role of G-CSF in MS patients. View Publication

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) causes chronic inflammation of joints. The cytokines TNFalpha and IFNgamma are central players in RA,however their source has not been fully elucidated. Natural Killer (NK) cells are best known for their role in elimination of viral-infected and transformed cells,and they secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines. NK cells are present in the synovial fluids (SFs) of RA patients and are considered to be important in bone destruction. However,the phenotype and function of NK cells in the SFs of patients with erosive deformative RA (DRA) versus non-deformative RA (NDRA) is poorly characterized. Here we characterize the NK cell populations present in the blood and SFs of DRA and NDRA patients. We demonstrate that a distinct population of activated synovial fluid NK (sfNK) cells constitutes a large proportion of immune cells found in the SFs of DRA patients. We discovered that although sfNK cells in both DRA and NDRA patients have similar phenotypes,they function differently. The DRA sfNK secrete more TNFalpha and IFNgamma upon exposure to IL-2 and IL-15. Consequently,we suggest that sfNK cells may be a marker for more severely destructive RA disease. View Publication

To achieve a functional cure for HIV,treatment regimens that eradicate latently HIV-infected cells must be established. For this,many groups have attempted to reactivate latently-infected cells to induce cytopathic effects and/or elicit cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)/NK cell-mediated immune responses to kill these cells. We believe that not only the reactivation of latently-infected cells,but also the induction of strong CTL responses,would be required for this. Here,we used typical immune activators that target pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). For our experimental model,we identified eight SIV-infected cynomolgus monkeys that became natural controllers of viremia. Although plasma viral loads were undetectable,we could measure SIV-DNA by qPCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Using these PBMCs,we screened 10 distinct PRR ligands to measure IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma production. Among these,STING ligands,cGAMP and c-di-AMP,and the TLR7/8 agonist R848 markedly increased cytokine levels. Both R848 and STING ligands could reactivate latently-infected cells in both cynomolgus monkeys and human PBMCs in vitro. Furthermore,c-di-AMP increased the frequency of SIV Gag-specific CD8+ T cells including polyfunctional CD8+ T cells,as compared to that in untreated control or R848-treated cells. Together,STING ligands might be candidates for HIV treatment. View Publication

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have the potential to generate multiple cell types and hold promise for future therapeutic applications. Although undifferentiated hESCs can proliferate indefinitely,hESC derivatives significantly downregulate telomerase and have limited replication potential. In this study we examine whether the replicative lifespan of hESC derivatives can be extended by ectopic expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT),the catalytic component of the telomerase complex. To this end,we have derived HEF1 cells,a fibroblast-like cell type,differentiated from hESCs. Infection of HEF1 cells with a retrovirus expressing hTERT extends their replicative capacity,resulting in immortal human HEF1-hTERT cells. HEF1-hTERT cells can be used to produce conditioned medium (CM) capable of supporting hESC growth under feeder-free conditions. Cultures maintained in HEF1-CM show characteristics similar to mouse embryonic fibroblast CM control cultures,including morphology,surface marker and transcription factor expression,telomerase activity,differentiation,and karyotypic stability. In addition,HEF1-hTERT cells have the capacity to differentiate into cells of the osteogenic lineage. These results suggest that immortalized cell lines can be generated from hESCs and that cells derived from hESCs can be used to support their own growth,creating a genotypically homogeneous system for the culture of hESCs. View Publication

Previous studies have shown that maintenance of undifferentiated human embryonic stem (hES) cells requires culture on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeders. Here we demonstrate a successful feeder-free hES culture system in which undifferentiated cells can be maintained for at least 130 population doublings. In this system,hES cells are cultured on Matrigel or laminin in medium conditioned by MEF. The hES cells maintained on feeders or off feeders express integrin alpha6 and beta1,which may form a laminin-specific receptor. The hES cell populations in feeder-free conditions maintained a normal karyotype,stable proliferation rate,and high telomerase activity. Similar to cells cultured on feeders,hES cells maintained under feeder-free conditions expressed OCT-4,hTERT,alkaline phosphatase,and surface markers including SSEA-4,Tra 1-60,and Tra 1-81. In addition,hES cells maintained without direct feeder contact formed teratomas in SCID/beige mice and differentiated in vitro into cells from all three germ layers. Thus,the cells retain fundamental characteristics of hES cells in this culture system and are suitable for scaleup production. View Publication

The subset of regulatory T (Treg) cells,with its specific transcription Foxp3,is a unique cell type for the maintenance of immune homeostasis by controlling effector T (Teff) cell responses. Although it is common that a defect in Treg cells with Treg/Teff disorder causes autoimmune diseases; however,the precise mechanisms are not thoroughly revealed. Here,we report that miR-34a could attenuate human and murine Foxp3 gene expression via targeting their 3' untranslated regions (3' UTR). The human miR-34a,increased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and CD4+ T cells from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients,displayed a positive correlation with some serum markers of inflammation including rheumatoid factor (RF),anti-streptolysin antibody (ASO),erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) as well as Th17 signature gene RORgammat,but inversely correlated with the mRNA expression levels of FOXP3. In addition,murine miR-34a levels were downregulated in TGF-beta-induced Treg cells but upregulated in Th17 cells induced in vitro compared to activated CD4+ T cells. It has also been demonstrated that elevated miR-34a disrupting Treg/Th17 balance in vivo contributed to the progress of pathogenesis of collagen induced arthritis (CIA) mice. Furthermore,IL-6 and TNF-alpha were responsible for the upregulation of miR-34a and downregulation of Foxp3,which was reverted by the addition of NF-kappaB/p65 inhibitor BAY11-7082,thus indicating that NF-kappaB/p65 inhibited Foxp3 expression in an miR-34a-dependent manner. Finally,IL-6 or TNF-alpha-activated p65 could bind to the miR-34a promotor and enhance its activity,resulting in upregulation of its transcription. Taken together,we show that NF-kappaB activated by inflammatory cytokines,such as IL-6 and TNF-alpha,ameliorates Foxp3 levels via regulating miR-34a expression,which provides a new mechanistic and therapeutic insight into the ongoing of autoimmune diseases. View Publication