Reactive oxygen species, cellular redox systems and apoptosis

Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is a stress-activated protein kinase that can be induced by inflammatory cytokines, bacterial endotoxin, osmotic shock, UV radiation, and hypoxia. We report the identification of an anthrapyrazolone series with significant inhibition of JNK1, -2, and -3 (Ki = 0.19 μM). SP600125 is a reversible ATP-competitive inhibitor with >20-fold selectivity vs. a range of kinases and enzymes tested. In cells, SP600125 dose dependently inhibited the phosphorylation of c-Jun, the expression of inflammatory genes COX-2, IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and prevented the activation and differentiation of primary human CD4 cell cultures. In animal studies, SP600125 blocked (bacterial) lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and inhibited anti-CD3-induced apoptosis of CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes. Our study supports targeting JNK as an important strategy in inflammatory disease, apoptotic cell death, and cancer.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/98/24/13681.full.pdf

SP600125, an anthrapyrazolone inhibitor of Jun N-terminal kinase

Inflammasomes are key signalling platforms that detect pathogenic microorganisms and sterile stressors, and that activate the highly pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18. In this Review, we discuss the complex regulatory mechanisms that facilitate a balanced but effective inflammasome-mediated immune response, and we highlight the similarities to another molecular signalling platform - the apoptosome - that monitors cellular health. Extracellular regulatory mechanisms are discussed, as well as the intracellular control of inflammasome assembly, for example, via ion fluxes, free radicals and autophagy.

/pdf/activation-and-regulation-of-the-inflammasomes-3jj26fqvmx.pdf

Activation and regulation of the inflammasomes

S-nitrosylation, the covalent attachment of a nitrogen monoxide group to the thiol side chain of cysteine, has emerged as an important mechanism for dynamic, post-translational regulation of most or all main classes of protein. S-nitrosylation thereby conveys a large part of the ubiquitous influence of nitric oxide (NO) on cellular signal transduction, and provides a mechanism for redox-based physiological regulation.

Protein S-nitrosylation: purview and parameters.

Curcumin: The story so far

Nitric oxide and its role in apoptosis

A toxic dose of the nitric oxide (NO) donor S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO; 1 mM) promoted apoptotic cell death of RAW 264.7 macrophages, which was attenuated by cellular preactivation with a nontoxic dose of GSNO (200 μM) or with lipopolysaccharide, interferon-γ, and NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (LPS/IFN-γ/NMMA) for 15 h. Protection from apoptosis was achieved by expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2). Here we investigated the underlying mechanisms leading to Cox-2 expression. LPS/IFN-γ/NMMA prestimulation activated nuclear factor (NF)-κB and promoted Cox-2 expression. Cox-2 induction by low-dose GSNO demanded activation of both NF-κB and activator protein-1 (AP-1). NF-κB supershift analysis implied an active p50/p65 heterodimer, and a luciferase reporter construct, containing four copies of the NF-κB site derived from the murine Cox-2 promoter, confirmed NF-κB activation after NO addition. An NF-κB decoy approach abrogated not only Cox-2 expression after low-dose NO or after LPS/IFN-γ/NMMA but also inducible protection. The importance of AP-1 for Cox-2 expression and cell protection by low-level NO was substantiated by using the extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitor PD98059, blocking NO-elicited Cox-2 expression, but leaving the cytokine signal unaltered. Transient transfection of a dominant-negative c-Jun mutant further attenuated Cox-2 expression by low-level NO. Whereas cytokine-mediated Cox-2 induction relies on NF-κB activation, a low-level NO–elicited Cox-2 response required activation of both NF-κB and AP-1.

NF-κB and AP-1 Activation by Nitric Oxide Attenuated Apoptotic Cell Death in RAW 264.7 Macrophages

Activation of the cell death program by nitric oxide involves inhibition of the proteasome.

NO appears as an important determinant in auto and paracrine macrophage function. We hypothesized that NO switches monocyte/macrophage function from a pro- to an anti-inflammatory phenotype by activating anti-inflammatory properties of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma. NO-releasing compounds (100 micro M S-nitrosoglutathione or 50 micro M spermine-NONOate) as well as inducible NO synthase induction provoked activation of PPARgamma. This was proven by EMSAs, with the notion that supershift analysis pointed to the involvement of PPARgamma. PCR analysis ruled out induction of PPARgamma mRNA as a result of NO supplementation. Reporter assays, with a construct containing a triple PPAR response element in front of a thymidine kinase minimal promoter driving the luciferase gene, were positive in response to NO delivery. DNA binding capacity as well as the transactivating capability of PPARgamma were attenuated by addition of the antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine or in the presence of the NO scavenger 2-phenyl-4,4,5,6-tetramethyl-imidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide. Having established that NO but not lipophilic cyclic GMP analogs activated PPARgamma, we verified potential anti-inflammatory consequences. The oxidative burst of macrophages, evoked by phorbol ester, was attenuated in association with NO-elicited PPARgamma activation. A cause-effect relationship was demonstrated when PPAR response element decoy oligonucleotides, supplied in front of NO delivery, allowed to regain an oxidative response. PPARgamma-mediated down-regulation of p47 phagocyte oxidase, a component of the NAD(P)H oxidase system, was identified as one molecular mechanism causing inhibition of superoxide radical formation. We conclude that NO participates in controlling the pro- vs anti-inflammatory phenotype of macrophages by modulating PPARgamma.

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Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ by Nitric Oxide in Monocytes/Macrophages Down-Regulates p47phox and Attenuates the Respiratory Burst

Caspases are critical for the initiation and execution of apoptosis. Nitric oxide (NO) or derived species can prevent programmed cell death in several cell types, reportedly through S-nitrosation and inactivation of active caspases. Although we find that S-nitrosation of caspases can occur in vitro, our study questions whether this post-translational modification is solely responsible for NO-mediated inhibition of apoptosis. Indeed, using Jurkat cells as a model system, we demonstrate that NO donors block Fas- and etoposide-induced caspase activation and apoptosis (downstream of mitochondrial membrane depolarization) and cytochrome c release. However, caspase activity was not restored by the strong reducing agent dithiothreitol, as predicted for S-nitrosation reactions, thereby excluding active-site-thiol modification of caspases as the only anti-apoptotic mechanism of NO donors in cells. Rather, we observed that processing of procaspases-9, -3 and -8 was decreased due to ineffective formation of the Apaf-1/caspase-9 apoptosome. Gel-filtration and in vitro binding assays indicated that NO donors inhibit correct assembly of Apaf-1 into an active approx. 700 kDa apoptosome complex, and markedly attenuate caspase-recruitment domain (CARD)-CARD interactions between Apaf-1 and procaspase-9. Therefore we suggest that NO or a metabolite acts directly at the level of the apoptosome and inhibits the sequential activation of caspases-9, -3 and -8, which are required for both stress- and receptor-induced death in cells that use the mitochondrial subroute of cell demise.

Andreas von Knethen

Papers

Nitric oxide and its role in apoptosis

NF-κB and AP-1 Activation by Nitric Oxide Attenuated Apoptotic Cell Death in RAW 264.7 Macrophages

Activation of the cell death program by nitric oxide involves inhibition of the proteasome.

Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ by Nitric Oxide in Monocytes/Macrophages Down-Regulates p47phox and Attenuates the Respiratory Burst

Nitric oxide donors inhibit formation of the Apaf-1/caspase-9 apoptosome and activation of caspases.