Cathepsin S Contributes to Lung Inflammation in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Rationale: Although the cysteine protease cathepsin S has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory lung diseases, its role has not been examined in the context of acute respiratory distress syndrome, a condition that still lacks specific and effective pharmacological treatments. Objectives: To characterize the status of cathepsin S in acute lung inflammation and examine the role of cathepsin S in disease pathogenesis. Methods: Human and mouse model BAL fluid samples were analyzed for the presence and activity of cathepsin S and its endogenous inhibitors. Recombinant cathepsin S was instilled directly into the lungs of mice. The effects of cathepsin S knockout and pharmacological inhibition were examined in two models of acute lung injury. Protease-activated receptor-1 antagonism was used to test a possible mechanism for cathepsin S-mediated inflammation. Measurements and Main Results: Pulmonary cathepsin S concentrations and activity were elevated in acute respiratory distress syndrome, a phenotype possibly exacerbated by the loss of the endogenous antiprotease cystatin SN. Direct cathepsin S instillation into the lungs induced key pathologies of acute respiratory distress syndrome, including neutrophilia and alveolar leakage. Conversely, in murine models of acute lung injury, genetic knockdown and prophylactic or therapeutic inhibition of cathepsin S reduced neutrophil recruitment and protein leakage. Cathepsin S may partly mediate its pathogenic effects via protease-activated receptor-1, because antagonism of this receptor abrogated cathepsin S-induced airway inflammation. Conclusions: Cathepsin S contributes to acute lung injury and may represent a novel therapeutic target for acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Targeting of cathepsin S reduces cystic fibrosis-like lung disease.

Cathepsin S (CatS) is upregulated in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, its role in CF lung disease pathogenesis remains unclear.In this study, ß-epithelial Na+ channel-overexpressing transgenic (ßENaC-Tg) mice, a model of CF-like lung disease, were crossed with CatS null (CatS-/-) mice or treated with the CatS inhibitor VBY-999.Levels of active CatS were elevated in the lungs of ßENaC-Tg mice compared with wild-type (WT) littermates. CatS-/-ßENaC-Tg mice exhibited decreased pulmonary inflammation, mucus obstruction and structural lung damage compared with ßENaC-Tg mice. Pharmacological inhibition of CatS resulted in a significant decrease in pulmonary inflammation, lung damage and mucus plugging in the lungs of ßENaC-Tg mice. In addition, instillation of CatS into the lungs of WT mice resulted in inflammation, lung remodelling and upregulation of mucin expression. Inhibition of the CatS target, protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), in ßENaC-Tg mice resulted in a reduction in airway inflammation and mucin expression, indicating a role for this receptor in CatS-induced lung pathology.Our data indicate an important role for CatS in the pathogenesis of CF-like lung disease mediated in part by PAR2 and highlight CatS as a therapeutic target.

Protease-Activated Receptor 2 Facilitates Bacterial Dissemination in Pneumococcal Pneumonia.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common causative pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia. Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is expressed by different cell types in the lungs and can mediate inflammatory responses. We sought to determine the role of PAR2 during pneumococcal pneumonia. Pneumococcal pneumonia or sepsis was induced in wild-type and PAR2 knock-out (Par2-/-) mice by infection with viable S. pneumoniae. Par2-/- mice demonstrated improved host defense, a largely preserved lung barrier integrity, and reduced mortality during pneumococcal pneumonia. PAR2 deficiency did not influence bacterial growth after intravenous infection. Inhibition of the endogenous PAR2 activating proteases tissue factor/factor VIIa or tryptase did not impact on bacterial burdens during pneumonia. In a PAR2 reporter cell line it was demonstrated that S. pneumoniae-derived proteases are able to cleave PAR2. These results show that S. pneumoniae is able to cleave and exploit PAR2 to disseminate systemically from the airways.

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta (C/EBPδ) deficiency does not affect bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating fibrotic diffuse parenchymal lung disorder that remains refractory to pharmacological therapies. Therefore, novel treatments are urgently required. CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta (C/EBPδ) is a transcription factor that mediates critical cellular functions in pathophysiology and which was recently suggested to be a key regulatory component in IPF. The purpose of this study was to prove or refute the importance of C/EBPδ in pulmonary fibrosis. METHODS: Pulmonary fibrosis was induced by intranasal instillation of bleomycin into wild-type and C/EBPδ deficient mice. At different time intervals after bleomycin instillation, fibrosis was assessed by hydroxyproline analysis, histochemistry and q-PCR for fibrotic marker expression. RESULTS: C/EBPδ deficient mice developed pulmonary fibrosis to a similar degree as wildtype mice as evident from similar Ashcroft scores, hydroxyproline levels and expression levels of collagen, fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin at both 14 and 21 days after bleomycin instillation. The resolution of fibrosis, assessed at 48 days after bleomycin instillation, was also similar in wildtype and C/EBPδ deficient mice. In line with the lack of effect of C/EBPδ on fibrosis progression/resolution, macrophage recruitment and/or differentiation were also not different in wildtype or C/EBPδ deficient mice. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, C/EBPδ does not seem to affect bleomycin-induced experimental pulmonary fibrosis and we challenge the importance of C/EBPδ in pulmonary fibrosis. RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS: This study shows that the transcription factor C/EBPδ does not play a major role in the development of pulmonary fibrosis. Pharmacological targeting of C/EBPδ is therefore not likely to have a beneficial effect for patients suffering from pulmonary fibrosis.

Protean proteases: at the cutting edge of lung diseases.

Proteases were traditionally viewed as mere protein-degrading enzymes with a very restricted spectrum of substrates. A major expansion in protease research has uncovered a variety of novel substrates, and it is now evident that proteases are critical pleiotropic actors orchestrating pathophysiological processes. Recent findings evidenced that the net proteolytic activity also relies upon interconnections between different protease and protease inhibitor families in the protease web.In this review, we provide an overview of these novel concepts with a particular focus on pulmonary pathophysiology. We describe the emerging roles of several protease families including cysteine and serine proteases.The complexity of the protease web is exemplified in the light of multidimensional regulation of serine protease activity by matrix metalloproteases through cognate serine protease inhibitor processing. Finally, we will highlight how deregulated protease activity during pulmonary pathogenesis may be exploited for diagnosis/prognosis purposes, and utilised as a therapeutic tool using nanotechnologies.Considering proteases as part of an integrative biology perspective may pave the way for the development of new therapeutic targets to treat pulmonary diseases related to intrinsic protease deregulation.

Membrane-anchored Serine Protease Matriptase Is a Trigger of Pulmonary Fibrogenesis.

RATIONALE: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating disease that remains refractory to current therapies. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the expression and activity of the membrane-anchored serine protease matriptase in IPF in humans and unravel its potential role in human and experimental pulmonary fibrogenesis. METHODS: Matriptase expression was assessed in tissue specimens from patients with IPF versus control subjects using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting, while matriptase activity was monitored by fluorogenic substrate cleavage. Matriptase-induced fibroproliferative responses and the receptor involved were characterized in human primary pulmonary fibroblasts by Western blot, viability, and migration assays. In the murine model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, the consequences of matriptase depletion, either by using the pharmacological inhibitor camostat mesilate (CM), or by genetic down-regulation using matriptase hypomorphic mice, were characterized by quantification of secreted collagen and immunostainings. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Matriptase expression and activity were up-regulated in IPF and bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. In cultured human pulmonary fibroblasts, matriptase expression was significantly induced by transforming growth factor-ß. Furthermore, matriptase elicited signaling via protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2), and promoted fibroblast activation, proliferation, and migration. In the experimental bleomycin model, matriptase depletion, by the pharmacological inhibitor CM or by genetic down-regulation, diminished lung injury, collagen production, and transforming growth factor-ß expression and signaling. CONCLUSIONS: These results implicate increased matriptase expression and activity in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis in human IPF and in an experimental mouse model. Overall, targeting matriptase, or treatment by CM, which is already in clinical use for other diseases, may represent potential therapies for IPF.

Anticoagulant therapy of cancer patients: Will patient selection increase overall survival?

Already since the early 1800s, it has been recognised that malignancies may provoke thromboembolic complications, and indeed cancer patients are at increased risk of developing venous thrombosis. Interestingly, case control studies of deep-vein thrombosis suggested that low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) improved survival of cancer patients. This led to the hypothesis that cancer cells might 'take advantage' of a hypercoagulable state to more efficiently metastasise. Initial randomised placebo control trials showed that LMWH improve overall survival of cancer patients, especially in those patients with a relatively good prognosis. The failure of recent phase III trials, however, tempers enthusiasm for anticoagulant treatment in cancer patients despite an overwhelming body of literature showing beneficial effects of anticoagulants in preclinical models. Instead of discarding LMWH as potential (co)treatment modality in cancer patients, these disappointing recent trials should guide future preclinical research on anticoagulants in cancer biology. Most and for all, the underlying mechanisms by which coagulation drives tumour progression need to be elucidated. This could ultimately allow selection of cancer patients most likely to benefit from anticoagulant treatment and/or from targeted therapy downstream of coagulation factor signalling.

Protease activated receptor-1 deficiency diminishes bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis.

Accumulating evidence shows that protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) plays an important role in the development of fibrosis, including lung fibrosis. However, whether PAR-1 also plays a role in the development of skin fibrosis remains elusive. The aim of this study was to determine the role of PAR-1 in the development of skin fibrosis. To explore possible mechanisms by which PAR-1 could play a role, human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes were stimulated with specific PAR-1 agonists or antagonists. To investigate the role of PAR-1 in skin fibrosis, we subjected wild-type and PAR-1-deficient mice to a model of bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis. PAR-1 activation leads to increased proliferation and extra cellular matrix (ECM) production, but not migration of human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) in vitro. Moreover, transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß production was increased in keratinocytes upon PAR-1 activation, but not in HDF. The loss of PAR-1 in vivo significantly attenuated bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis. The bleomycin-induced increase in dermal thickness and ECM production was reduced significantly in PAR-1-deficient mice compared with wild-type mice. Moreover, TGF-ß expression and the number of proliferating fibroblasts were reduced in PAR-1-deficient mice although the difference did not reach statistical significance. This study demonstrates that PAR-1 contributes to the development of skin fibrosis and we suggest that PAR-1 potentiates the fibrotic response mainly by inducing fibroblast proliferation and ECM production.

CCAAT-enhancer binding protein delta (C/EBPδ) attenuates tubular injury and tubulointerstitial fibrogenesis during chronic obstructive nephropathy.

CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein delta (C/EBPδ) is a transcription factor mainly known for its role in inflammation and apoptosis/proliferation. Considering that these are key processes in renal fibrosis, we hypothesized that C/EBPδ would potentiate renal fibrosis. In line with this hypothesis, C/EBPδ has recently been suggested to regulate the fibrotic response during glomerulonephritis. Here we determined the importance of C/EBPδ in the development of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis by subjecting 8- to 12-week-old C/EBPδ-deficient mice and age- and sex-matched wild-type controls to the unilateral ureteral obstruction model. Mice were killed at 1, 3, or 7 days post surgery, and renal tissues were obtained for RNA, protein, and immunohistochemical analysis. We show that C/EBPδ deficiency resulted in a more profound fibrotic response as evident from enhanced tubular injury, collagen deposition in the interstitial area, and higher expression of transforming growth factor-ß. Moreover, we show that the increase in renal fibrosis in C/EBPδ-deficient mice does not depend on an altered proliferation/apoptosis balance or on a differential inflammatory response in the obstructed kidney. In conclusion, our study provides direct evidence that C/EBPδ is a novel mediator of renal fibrosis. Modulating C/EBPδ expression could consequently be a potential antifibrotic strategy in patients with chronic kidney disease.

CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein δ facilitates bacterial dissemination during pneumococcal pneumonia in a platelet-activating factor receptor-dependent manner.

CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein δ (C/EBPδ) recently emerged as an essential player in the inflammatory response to bacterial infections. C/EBPδ levels increase rapidly after a proinflammatory stimulus, and increasing C/EBPδ levels seem to be indispensable for amplification of the inflammatory response. Here we aimed to elucidate the role of C/EBPδ in host defense in community-acquired pneumococcal pneumonia. We show that C/EBPδ(-/-) mice are relatively resistant to pneumococcal pneumonia, as indicated by delayed and reduced mortality, diminished outgrowth of pneumococci in lungs, and reduced dissemination of the infection. Moreover, expression of platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR), which is known to potentiate bacterial translocation of gram-positive bacteria, was significantly reduced during infection in C/EBPδ(-/-) mice compared with WT controls. Importantly, cell stimulation experiments revealed that C/EBPδ potentiates PAFR expression induced by lipoteichoic acid and pneumococci. Thus, C/EBPδ exaggerates bacterial dissemination during Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced pulmonary infection, suggesting an important role for PAFR-dependent bacterial translocation.

Functional consequences of prolactin signalling in endothelial cells: a potential link with angiogenesis in pathophysiology?

Prolactin is best known as the polypeptide anterior pituitary hormone, which regulates the development of the mammary gland. However, it became clear over the last decade that prolactin contributes to a broad range of pathologies, including breast cancer. Prolactin is also involved in angiogenesis via the release of pro-angiogenic factors by leukocytes and epithelial cells. However, whether prolactin also influences endothelial cells, and whether there are functional consequences of prolactin-induced signalling in the perspective of angiogenesis, remains so far elusive. In the present study, we show that prolactin induces phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and STAT5 and induces tube formation of endothelial cells on Matrigel. These effects are blocked by a specific prolactin receptor antagonist, del1-9-G129R-hPRL. Moreover, in an in vivo model of the chorioallantoic membrane of the chicken embryo, prolactin enhances vessel density and the tortuosity of the vasculature and pillar formation, which are hallmarks of intussusceptive angiogenesis. Interestingly, while prolactin has only little effect on endothelial cell proliferation, it markedly stimulates endothelial cell migration. Again, migration was reverted by del1-9-G129R-hPRL, indicating a direct effect of prolactin on its receptor. Immunohistochemistry and spectral imaging revealed that the prolactin receptor is present in the microvasculature of human breast carcinoma tissue. Altogether, these results suggest that prolactin may directly stimulate angiogenesis, which could be one of the mechanisms by which prolactin contributes to breast cancer progression, thereby providing a potential tool for intervention.

IGF-1 has plaque-stabilizing effects in atherosclerosis by altering vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling is important for the maintenance of plaque stability in atherosclerosis due to its effects on vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC) phenotype. To investigate this hypothesis, we studied the effects of the highly inflammatory milieu of the atherosclerotic plaque on IGF-1 signaling and stability-related phenotypic parameters of murine vSMCs in vitro, and the effects of IGF-1 supplementation on plaque phenotype in an atherosclerotic mouse model. M1-polarized, macrophage-conditioned medium inhibited IGF-1 signaling by ablating IGF-1 and increasing IGF-binding protein 3, increased vSMC apoptosis, and decreased proliferation. Expression of α-actin and col3a1 genes was strongly attenuated by macrophage-conditioned medium, whereas expression of matrix-degrading enzymes was increased. Importantly, all of these effects could be corrected by supplementation with IGF-1. In vivo, treatment with the stable IGF-1 analog Long R3 IGF-1 in apolipoprotein E knockout mice reduced stenosis and core size, and doubled cap/core ratio in early atherosclerosis. In advanced plaques, Long R3 IGF-1 increased the vSMC content of the plaque by more than twofold and significantly reduced the rate of intraplaque hemorrhage. We believe that IGF-1 in atherosclerotic plaques may have a role in preventing plaque instability, not only by modulating smooth muscle cell turnover, but also by altering smooth muscle cell phenotype.

The role of coagulation in chronic inflammatory disorders: a jack of all trades.

Chronic inflammatory disorders constitute a heterogeneous group of complex and multifactorial diseases, which are often associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, independent of the established cardiovascular risk factors. In keeping with this observation, hypercoagulability is frequently observed in patients suffering from atherosclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis although the physiological significance of activated coagulation remained elusive. However, the identification of protease activated receptors (PAR) seem to provide a link between coagulation activation and disease progression as their activation by coagulation factors triggers a broad range of signaling pathways relevant for chronic inflammatory disorders. In experimental animal models, anticoagulation and/or genetic ablation of PAR signaling affords protection against the perpetuation of atherosclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis. It is thus tempting to speculate that targeting the coagulation-PAR axis might have clinical relevance in the setting of chronic inflammatory disorders. In the current review, we discuss the current knowledge on coagulation activation in inflammatory disorders, we discuss the relationship between atherosclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis and we review the current knowledge on PAR signaling in these disorders.

Neuropeptide receptors in intestinal disease: physiology and therapeutic potential.

The autonomous nervous system of the gut is increasingly recognized as an important regulatory factor in intestinal permeability and immune cell activation. Neuropeptides released by neurons -or inflammatory cells- have emerged as neuro-immune modulators that can relay, for instance, stress-induced neuronal activity to immune processes. Such peptides can participate in processes reducing inflammatory responses, or augment resolution of inflammation. Neuropeptides and hormones such as vasoactive intestinal peptide, urocortin, ghrelin, and cortistatin have been shown to modulate the disease activity in a variety of experimental models of inflammatory and autoimmune disease via modulation of immune or neuronal cell activity. We review here the potential of neuropeptide receptor activation to modulate inflammatory diseases of the intestine. We will highlight the role of neuropeptides in gastrointestinal (GI) physiology and immune regulation, and we will speculate on the therapeutic potential of peptides that bind G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the management of inflammation in the GI tract.

Characterization of the intracellular signalling capacity of natural FXa mutants with reduced pro-coagulant activity.

INTRODUCTION: Factor X (FX) is a serine-protease playing a crucial role in the blood coagulation pathway and triggering intracellular signalling in a variety of cells via protease-activated receptors (PARs). By exploiting naturally occurring variants (V342A and G381D, catalytic domain; E19A, gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (GLA)-rich domain), we investigated the relationship between the pro-coagulant activity and the signal transduction capacity of FX. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Recombinant FX (rFX) variants were expressed in Human Embryonic Kidney cells and purified by immunoaffinity chromatography. Activated rFX (rFXa) variants were characterized for pro-coagulant, amidolytic and thrombin generation activity. rFXa signalling was assessed through evaluation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation in C2C12 myoblasts. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: rFX variants showed reduced (rFX-342A, 29%; rFX-19A, 12%) or not detectable (rFX-381D) amidolytic activity. Thrombin generation activity in a plasma system was also decreased either upon activation by Russell's viper venom (rFX-342A, 38%; rFX-19A, 7%; rFX-381D, not detectable) or by the extrinsic pathway (rFX-342A, 36%; rFX-19A, rFX-381D, not detectable). The rFXa-381D mutant displayed little or no enzymatic activity, and did not induce any appreciable signal transduction capacity. The rFXa-342A mutant induced a dose-dependent signalling with a 50% reduced signalling capacity. At the highest concentration (174 nM), signalling progressed with a time course similar to that of rFXa-wt. Zymogen rFX-19A showed defective and incomplete activation resulting in strongly reduced enzymatic activity and signalling. Taken together our data are consistent with a close correlation between pro-coagulant activity and intracellular signalling capacity.

Protease-activated receptors, apoptosis and tumor growth.

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are activated by a unique proteolytic mechanism. Besides the important role of blood coagulation factors in preventing bleeding after vascular injury, these serine proteinases actively engage target cells thereby fulfilling critical functions in cell biology. Cellular responses triggered by coagulation factor-induced PAR activation suggest that PARs play an important role in proliferation, survival and/or malignant transformation of tumor cells. Indeed, PAR expression correlates with cancer malignancy and clinical studies show that anticoagulant treatment is beneficial in cancer patients. In this review, we provide an overview on the PAR family, their mode of activation and mechanisms by which PAR signaling is terminated. In addition, we discuss the relationship between blood coagulation and cancer biology focusing on the potential role of PAR-induced modulation of cell survival, apoptosis and tumor growth.

Sonic hedgehog induces transcription-independent cytoskeletal rearrangement and migration regulated by arachidonate metabolites.

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is a morphogen pivotal for development and tissue maintenance. Biological effects of Shh are mediated through a pathway that involves binding to patched1 (Ptch1), thereby releasing Smoothened (Smo) from inhibition resulting in the activation of Gli transcription factors, which mediate the induction of Shh target genes. Here, we describe a novel signal transduction pathway for Shh, which is transcription/translation-independent, SuFu insensitive, and consequently independent of Gli-mediated induction of transcription. Through this alternative pathway Shh, transduced via Smo, induced altered cell morphology together with lamellipodia formation. Migration assays demonstrate that this cytoskeletal rearrangement mediates the migratory response to Shh. This Shh-induced, Smo mediated migration utilizes and requires the metabolism of arachidonic acid through the 5-lipoxygenase pathway. These data provide a link between a seemingly novel Gli-independent Hh signaling pathway and the leukotriene metabolism, and might explain the developmental abnormalities observed in both patients with defective leukotriene metabolism as well as in rodent models of defective Rho family GTPase signaling.

Coagulation factor Xa drives tumor cells into apoptosis through BH3-only protein Bim up-regulation.

Coagulation Factor (F)Xa is a serine protease that plays a crucial role during blood coagulation by converting prothrombin into active thrombin. Recently, however, it emerged that besides this role in coagulation, FXa induces intracellular signaling leading to different cellular effects. Here, we show that coagulation factor (F)Xa drives tumor cells of epithelial origin, but not endothelial cells or monocytes, into apoptosis, whereas it even enhances fibroblast survival. FXa signals through the protease activated receptor (PAR)-1 to activate extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and p38. This activation is associated with phosphorylation of the transcription factor CREB, and in tumor cells with up-regulation of the BH3-only pro-apoptotic protein Bim, leading to caspase-3 cleavage, the main hallmark of apoptosis. Transfection of tumor cells with dominant negative forms of CREB or siRNA for either PAR-1, Bim, ERK1 and/or p38 inhibited the pro-apoptotic effect of FXa. In fibroblasts, FXa-induced PAR-1 activation leads to down-regulation of Bim and pre-treatment with PAR-1 or Bim siRNA abolishes proliferation. We thus provide evidence that beyond its role in blood coagulation, FXa plays a key role in cellular processes in which Bim is the central player in determining cell survival.