T helper cells that produce interleukin 17 (IL-17) are associated with inflammation and the control of certain bacteria. We report here the essential involvement of the adaptor protein Act1 in IL-17 receptor (IL-17R) signaling and IL-17-dependent immune responses. After stimulation with IL-17, recruitment of Act1 to IL-17R required the IL-17R conserved cytoplasmic 'SEFIR' domain, followed by recruitment of the kinase TAK1 and E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAF6, which mediate 'downstream' activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB. IL-17-induced expression of inflammation-related genes was abolished in Act1-deficient primary astroglial and gut epithelial cells. This reduction was associated with much less inflammatory disease in vivo in both autoimmune encephalomyelitis and dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis. Our data show that Act1 is essential in IL-17-dependent signaling in autoimmune and inflammatory disease.

Interleukin 17 (IL-17) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Here we report that Act1, the key adaptor for IL-17R, forms a complex with IKKi upon IL-17 stimulation. Using IKKi-deficient mice, we show that IKKi was required for IL-17-induced inflammatory gene expression in primary airway epithelial cells, neutrophilia and pulmonary inflammation. IKKi deficiency abolished IL-17-induced Act1-TRAF2/5 complex formation, MAPK activation and mRNA stability, whereas the Act1-TRAF6-NFκB axis was retained. IKKi was required for IL-17-induced Act1 phosphorylation on serine 311, adjacent to a putative TRAF binding motif. S311A mutation impaired IL-17-mediated Act1-TRAF2/5 interaction and gene expression. Thus, IKKi is a novel kinase modulating IL-17 signaling through its impact on Act1 phosphorylation and consequent function.

Reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species produced by epithelial and inflammatory cells are key mediators of the chronic airway inflammation of asthma. Detection of 3-nitrotyrosine in the asthmatic lung confirms the presence of increased reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, but the lack of identification of modified proteins has hindered an understanding of the potential mechanistic contributions of nitration/oxidation to airway inflammation. In this study, we applied a proteomic approach, using nitrotyrosine as a marker, to evaluate the oxidation of proteins in the allergen-induced murine model of asthma. Over 30 different proteins were targets of nitration following allergen challenge, including the antioxidant enzyme catalase. Oxidative modification and loss of catalase enzyme function were seen in this model. Subsequent investigation of human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed that catalase activity was reduced in asthma by up to 50% relative to healthy controls. Analysis of catalase isolated from asthmatic airway epithelial cells revealed increased amounts of several protein oxidation markers, including chloro- and nitrotyrosine, linking oxidative modification to the reduced activity in vivo. Parallel in vitro studies using reactive chlorinating species revealed that catalase inactivation is accompanied by the oxidation of a specific cysteine (Cys(377)). Taken together, these studies provide evidence of multiple ongoing and profound oxidative reactions in asthmatic airways, with one early downstream consequence being catalase inactivation. Loss of catalase activity likely amplifies oxidative stress, contributing to the chronic inflammatory state of the asthmatic airway.

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A novel cytokine IL-33, an IL-1 family member, signals via ST2 receptor and promotes Th2 responses, through the activation of NF-κB and MAP kinases. Previous studies reported that single Ig IL-1R-related molecule (SIGIRR)/Toll IL-1R8 acts as negative regulator for TLR-IL-1R-mediated signaling. We now found that SIGIRR formed a complex with ST2 upon IL-33 stimulation and specifically inhibited IL-33/ST2-mediated signaling in cell culture model. Furthermore, IL-33-induced Th2 response was enhanced in SIGIRR-deficient mice compared with that in wild-type control mice, suggesting a negative regulatory role of SIGIRR in IL-33/ST2 signaling in vivo. Similar to ST2, SIGIRR was highly expressed in in vitro polarized Th2 cells, but not Th1 cells. SIGIRR-deficient Th2 cells produce higher levels of Th2 cytokines, including IL-5, IL-4, and IL-13, than that in wild-type cells. Moreover, SIGIRR-deficient mice developed stronger Th2 immune response in OVA-challenged asthma model. Taken together, our results suggest that SIGIRR plays an important role in the regulation of Th2 response in vivo, possibly through its impact on IL-33-ST2-mediated signaling.

Mechanisms that degrade inflammatory mRNAs are well-known, however stabilizing mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we show that Act1, an interleukin-17 (IL-17) receptor complex adaptor, binds and stabilizes mRNAs encoding key inflammatory proteins. The Act1 SEFIR domain binds a stem-loop structure, SBE (SEFIR-binding element), in the inflammatory chemokine Cxcl1 3’ UTR. mRNA-bound Act1 directs formation of three compartmentally-distinct protein-RNA complexes (RNPs) that regulate three disparate events in inflammatory mRNA metabolism: preventing mRNA decay in the nucleus, inhibiting mRNA decapping in P-bodies, and promoting translation. SBE RNA aptamers reduced IL-17-mediated mRNA stabilization in vitro, IL-17-induced skin inflammation and airway inflammation in a mouse asthma model, providing a therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases. These results reveal a network in which Act1 assembles RNPs on the 3’ UTRs of select mRNAs to control receptor-mediated mRNA stabilization and translation during inflammation.

Asthma is defined by airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness, and contributes to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although bronchodilation is a cornerstone of treatment, current bronchodilators become ineffective with worsening asthma severity. We investigated an alternative pathway that involves activating the airway smooth muscle enzyme, soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). Activating sGC by its natural stimulant nitric oxide (NO), or by pharmacologic sGC agonists BAY 41-2272 and BAY 60-2770, triggered bronchodilation in normal human lung slices and in mouse airways. Both BAY 41-2272 and BAY 60-2770 reversed airway hyperresponsiveness in mice with allergic asthma and restored normal lung function. The sGC from mouse asthmatic lungs displayed three hallmarks of oxidative damage that render it NO-insensitive, and identical changes to sGC occurred in human lung slices or in human airway smooth muscle cells when given chronic NO exposure to mimic the high NO in asthmatic lung. Our findings show how allergic inflammation in asthma may impede NO-based bronchodilation, and reveal that pharmacologic sGC agonists can achieve bronchodilation despite this loss.A sthma is an inflammatory disease that causes airway hyperreactivity (AHR) and bronchoconstriction, which impedes daily life activities and, when severe, can cause death. It is the most common chronic disease of childhood, accounts for one in three emergency department visits daily, and asthma diagnoses are increasing worldwide (1). The leading treatment for relief and acute care is bronchodilation, which relies heavily on the β-adrenergic receptor-cAMP pathway. Nearly 70% of patients, however, develop resistance or tachyphylaxis to the existing β-agonist therapy (2), underscoring a need for new bronchodilators that can act through a different pharmacologic principle.The nitric oxide-soluble guanylate cyclase-cGMP pathway (NO-sGC-cGMP) is the primary signal transduction pathway for relaxing vascular smooth muscle (3). In contrast, a role for the NO-sGC-cGMP pathway in relaxing airway smooth muscle is less clear (4, 5), and bronchodilation was instead suggested to depend on glutathione nitrosothiol levels in the lung (6, 7). However, recent studies have shown that inflammation can desensitize sGC toward its natural activator, NO (8), and new drugs have become available that directly activate sGC, independent of NO (9). These developments encouraged us to re-examine the NO-sGC-cGMP pathway regarding its role in bronchodilation, its becoming damaged in inflammatory asthma, and its potential for alternative bronchodilator development under this circumstance. ResultsThe NO-sGC-cGMP Pathway Bronchodilates Human Lung. We first tested if stimulating the NO-sGC-cGMP pathway would dilate preconstricted small airways in human precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) obtained from healthy donor lungs (Fig. 1A and Table S1). Graded doses of the slow-release NO donor DETA/NO [3,3-Bis(aminoethyl)-1-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-triazene] produced bronchodilation in human PCLS similar to what was ...

Allergic reactions to endoprostheses are uncommon and reported in association with orthopaedic, dental, endovascular and other implanted devices. Hypersensitivity reactions to the biomaterials used in endovascular prostheses are among the infrequent reactions that may lead to local or systemic complications following cardiovascular therapeutic interventions. This article reviews potential immunotoxic effects of commonly used biomaterials. Reports of putative hypersensitivity reactions to endovascular devices, including coronary stents, perforated foramen occluders, pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators are also reviewed.