Showing papers by "Michael Karin published in 2013"

Loss of acinar cell IKKα triggers spontaneous pancreatitis in mice.

Abstract: Chronic pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease that causes progressive destruction of pancreatic acinar cells and, ultimately, loss of pancreatic function. We investigated the role of IκB kinase α (IKKα) in pancreatic homeostasis. Pancreas-specific ablation of IKKα (Ikkα(Δpan)) caused spontaneous and progressive acinar cell vacuolization and death, interstitial fibrosis, inflammation, and circulatory release of pancreatic enzymes, clinical signs resembling those of human chronic pancreatitis. Loss of pancreatic IKKα causes defective autophagic protein degradation, leading to accumulation of p62-mediated protein aggregates and enhanced oxidative and ER stress in acinar cells, but none of these effects is related to NF-κB. Pancreas-specific p62 ablation prevented ER and oxidative stresses and attenuated pancreatitis in Ikkα(Δpan) mice, suggesting that cellular stress induced by p62 aggregates promotes development of pancreatitis. Importantly, downregulation of IKKα and accumulation of p62 aggregates were also observed in chronic human pancreatitis. Our studies demonstrate that IKKα, which may control autophagic protein degradation through its interaction with ATG16L2, plays a critical role in maintaining pancreatic acinar cell homeostasis, whose dysregulation promotes pancreatitis through p62 aggregate accumulation.

Intestinal glucuronidation protects against chemotherapy-induced toxicity by irinotecan (CPT-11)

Abstract: Camptothecin (CPT)-11 (irinotecan) has been used widely for cancer treatment, particularly metastatic colorectal cancer. However, up to 40% of treated patients suffer from severe late diarrhea, which prevents CPT-11 dose intensification and efficacy. CPT-11 is a prodrug that is hydrolyzed by hepatic and intestinal carboxylesterase to form SN-38, which in turn is detoxified primarily through UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1)-catalyzed glucuronidation. To better understand the mechanism associated with toxicity, we generated tissue-specific Ugt1 locus conditional knockout mouse models and examined the role of glucuronidation in protecting against irinotecan-induced toxicity. We targeted the deletion of the Ugt1 locus and the Ugt1a1 gene specifically in the liver (Ugt1(ΔHep)) and the intestine (Ugt1(ΔGI)). Control (Ugt1(F/F)), Ugt1(ΔHep), and Ugt1(ΔGI) adult male mice were treated with different concentrations of CPT-11 daily for four consecutive days. Toxicities were evaluated with regard to tissue glucuronidation potential. CPT-11-treated Ugt1(ΔHep) mice showed a similar lethality rate to the CPT-11-treated Ugt1(F/F) mice. However, Ugt1(ΔGI) mice were highly susceptible to CPT-11-induced diarrhea, developing severe and lethal mucositis at much lower CPT-11 doses, a result of the proliferative cell loss and inflammation in the intestinal tract. Comparative expression levels of UGT1A1 in intestinal tumors and normal surrounding tissue are dramatically different, providing for the opportunity to improve therapy by differential gene regulation. Intestinal expression of the UGT1A proteins is critical toward the detoxification of SN-38, whereas induction of the UGT1A1 gene may serve to limit toxicity and improve the efficacy associated with CPT-11 treatment.

Inflammation and liver tumorigenesis

Abstract: Inflammation has been considered as one of the hallmarks of cancer, and chronic hepatitis is a major cause of liver cancer. This review will focus on the pathogenic role of inflammation in hepatocarcinogenesis and will discuss recent advances in understanding the chronic hepatitis-liver cancer link based on hot spots in liver cancer research, including cellular interaction, cytokines, microRNA and stem cells. All of these mechanisms should be taken into consideration because they are crucial for the development of more efficacious therapeutic strategies for preventing and treating human chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

p38α inhibits liver fibrogenesis and consequent hepatocarcinogenesis by curtailing accumulation of reactive oxygen species.

Abstract: Most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) develop in the context of severe liver fibrosis and cirrhosis caused by chronic liver inflammation, which also results in accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we examined whether the stress-activated protein kinase p38α (Mapk14) controls ROS metabolism and development of fibrosis and cancer in mice given thioacetamide to induce chronic liver injury. Liver-specific p38α ablation was found to enhance ROS accumulation, which appears to be exerted through the reduced expression of antioxidant protein HSP25 (Hspb1), a mouse homolog of HSP27. Its reexpression in p38α-deficient liver prevents ROS accumulation and thioacetamide-induced fibrosis. p38α deficiency increased expression of SOX2, a marker for cancer stem cells and the liver oncoproteins c-Jun (Jun) and Gankyrin (Psmd10) and led to enhanced thioacetamide-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. The upregulation of SOX2 and c-Jun was prevented by administration of the antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole. Intriguingly, the risk of human HCC recurrence is positively correlated with ROS accumulation in liver. Thus, p38α and its target HSP25/HSP27 appear to play a conserved and critical hepatoprotective function by curtailing ROS accumulation in liver parenchymal cells engaged in oxidative metabolism of exogenous chemicals. Augmented oxidative stress of liver parenchymal cells may explain the close relationship between liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinogenesis.

Implications of anti-cytokine therapy in colorectal cancer and autoimmune diseases

Abstract: Up to 20% of all cancers have been linked to chronic inflammation and persistent infections. However, almost all solid tumours contain immune infiltrates, and tumour-associated inflammatory cells play broad roles in different stages of tumour development and malignant progression. Cytokines are important mediators of the inflammatory effect on tumorigenesis both in inflammation-induced cancer and in the inflammation that follows tumour development. We have shown interleukin (IL)-6 to be an important tumour promoter in early colitis-associated cancer (CAC). IL-6 is mainly produced by tumour-infiltrating myeloid cells under the control of NF-κB. IL-6 promotes proliferation of tumour-initiating cells derived from the intestinal epithelium and protects them from apoptotic elimination. These pro-survival and proliferative effects of IL-6 are mainly mediated by STAT3, whose ablation in intestinal epithelial cells significantly reduces CAC tumorigenesis. More recently, we found a critical role for IL-23 and its downstream cytokines IL-17 and IL-22 in the development of CAC. These findings suggest that such cytokines or the cells that produce them may provide new therapeutic or preventive targets in forms of colorectal cancer that are linked to inflammation.

JNK inhibition reduces apoptosis and neovascularization in a murine model of age-related macular degeneration

Abstract: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of registered blindness among the elderly and affects over 30 million people worldwide. It is well established that oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis play critical roles in pathogenesis of AMD. In advanced wet AMD, although, most of the severe vision loss is due to bleeding and exudation of choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and it is well known that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a pivotal role in the growth of the abnormal blood vessels. VEGF suppression therapy improves visual acuity in AMD patients. However, there are unresolved issues, including safety and cost. Here we show that mice lacking c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) exhibit decreased inflammation, reduced CNV, lower levels of choroidal VEGF, and impaired choroidal macrophage recruitment in a murine model of wet AMD (laser-induced CNV). Interestingly, we also detected a substantial reduction in choroidal apoptosis of JNK1-deficient mice. Intravitreal injection of a pan-caspase inhibitor reduced neovascularization in the laser-induced CNV model, suggesting that apoptosis plays a role in laser-induced pathological angiogenesis. Intravitreal injection of a specific JNK inhibitor decreased choroidal VEGF expression and reduced pathological CNV. These results suggest that JNK1 plays a key role in linking oxidative stress, inflammation, macrophage recruitment apoptosis, and VEGF production in wet AMD and pharmacological JNK inhibition offers a unique and alternative avenue for prevention and treatment of AMD.

An IKKα–E2F1–BMI1 cascade activated by infiltrating B cells controls prostate regeneration and tumor recurrence

Abstract: Androgen-deprived prostate cancer (PCa) is infiltrated by B lymphocytes that produce cytokines that activate IκB kinase α (IKKα) to accelerate the emergence of castration-resistant tumors. We now demonstrate that infiltrating B lymphocytes and IKKα are also required for androgen-dependent expansion of epithelial progenitors responsible for prostate regeneration. In these cells and in PCa cells, IKKα phosphorylates transcription factor E2F1 on a site that promotes its nuclear translocation, association with the coactivator CBP, and recruitment to critical genomic targets that include Bmi1, a key regulator of normal and cancerous prostate stem cell renewal. The IKKα–BMI1 pathway is also activated in human PCa.

The TNF Family Member 4-1BBL Sustains Inflammation by Interacting with TLR Signaling Components During Late-Phase Activation

Abstract: The microbial product lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on the surface of macrophages, which results in the production of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF-α). Activation of macrophages by LPS occurs in two phases, early and late, and the late phase is responsible for sustained TNF-α production, which can be detrimental. Noting that the TNF superfamily member 4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL) is present on the cell surface, where its interaction with TLR4 is required to mediate the late-phase response, Ma et al . found that the 4-1BBL cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains interacted with TLR4 and participated in the formation of a receptor signaling complex containing the adaptor protein TIRAP that was required for sustained TNF-α production. Treatment of mice with a TIRAP inhibitor peptide reduced TNF-α production and protected the mice from LPS-induced sepsis. Together, these findings suggest that targeting the TIRAP–4-1BBL interaction may provide an anti-inflammatory therapy by preventing the sustained production of TNF-α.

I kappa B kinase alpha (IKKα) activity is required for functional maturation of dendritic cells and acquired immunity to infection.

Abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) are required for priming antigen-specific T cells and acquired immunity to many important human pathogens, including Mycobacteriuim tuberculosis (TB) and influenza. However, inappropriate priming of auto-reactive T cells is linked with autoimmune disease. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate the priming and activation of naive T cells is critical for development of new improved vaccines and understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. The serine/threonine kinase IKKα (CHUK) has previously been shown to have anti-inflammatory activity and inhibit innate immunity. Here, we show that IKKα is required in DC for priming antigen-specific T cells and acquired immunity to the human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. We describe a new role for IKKα in regulation of IRF3 activity and the functional maturation of DC. This presents a unique role for IKKα in dampening inflammation while simultaneously promoting adaptive immunity that could have important implications for the development of new vaccine adjuvants and treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Lymphotoxin Signaling Is Initiated by the Viral Polymerase in HCV-linked Tumorigenesis

Abstract: Exposure to hepatitis C virus (HCV) typically results in chronic infection that leads to progressive liver disease ranging from mild inflammation to severe fibrosis and cirrhosis as well as primary liver cancer. HCV triggers innate immune signaling within the infected hepatocyte, a first step in mounting of the adaptive response against HCV infection. Persistent inflammation is strongly associated with liver tumorigenesis. The goal of our work was to investigate the initiation of the inflammatory processes triggered by HCV viral proteins in their host cell and their possible link with HCV-related liver cancer. We report a dramatic upregulation of the lymphotoxin signaling pathway and more specifically of lymphotoxin-β in tumors of the FL-N/35 HCV-transgenic mice. Lymphotoxin expression is accompanied by activation of NF-κB, neosynthesis of chemokines and intra-tumoral recruitment of mononuclear cells. Spectacularly, IKKβ inactivation in FL-N/35 mice drastically reduces tumor incidence. Activation of lymphotoxin-β pathway can be reproduced in several cellular models, including the full length replicon and HCV-infected primary human hepatocytes. We have identified NS5B, the HCV RNA dependent RNA polymerase, as the viral protein responsible for this phenotype and shown that pharmacological inhibition of its activity alleviates activation of the pro-inflammatory pathway. These results open new perspectives in understanding the inflammatory mechanisms linked to HCV infection and tumorigenesis.

Common flora and intestine: A carcinogenic marriage

Abstract: Commensal microflora engages in a symbiotic relationship with their host, and plays an important role in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Pathogenic bacteria promote chronic intestinal inflammation and accelerate tumorigenesis. In sporadic CRC, loss of an effective epithelial barrier occurs at early stage of CRC development. As a result, non-pathogenic bacteria and/or their products infiltrate tumor stroma, drive “tumor-elicited inflammation” and promote CRC progression by activating tumor-associated myeloid and immune cells that produce IL-23 and IL-17. In this article we will summarize the recent advances in understanding the relationship between gut flora and CRC.

Innate Immunity, Inflammation and Colorectal Cancer

Abstract: Up to 20% of cancers arise from chronic inflammation and persistent infections. Moreover, most solid tumors contain immune infiltrates. Tumor-associated inflammatory cells play broad roles in differen

Fibrotic non-human animal, and use thereof

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-human animal IKKβ which shows fibrosis of tissue, since it lacks IKKβ gene in a myofibroblast- and/or smooth muscle cell-specific manner. Since the non-human animal shows pathology highly similar to scleroderma, it is extremely useful as an animal model of scleroderma.

NF-κB and cancer

Abstract: Introduction Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcription factors and their signaling pathways have come to the forefront of the cancer field as mechanistic links connecting chronic inflammation and oncogenesis (1). These master transcription factors integrate multiple stimuli and co-ordinate innate and adaptive immune responses involved in acute and chronic inflammation (2). Epidemiological studies which pointed out that chronic inflammation and persistent infections greatly increase the risk of cancers of stomach, colon, and liver first suggested a link between inflammation, the innate immune response, and cancer (3). NF-κB was suggested as the molecular culprit that bridges these pathophysiological states and responses (1). However, establishing the association between NF-κB signaling and oncogenesis has been a challenging task because NF-κB and its activating machinery are rarely mutated in cancer cells in the same way as classical oncogenes (like Ras) or tumor-suppressor genes (like p53). Nonetheless, much evidence has been gathered, both through correlative studies and through direct experimentation, that NF-κB signaling does indeed contribute to cancer development and progression, mainly in inflammation-associated cancers, but also in cancers where underlying chronic inflammation plays little or no role (for example, breast and prostate cancers). The list of human cancers that were found to exhibit constitutive NF-κB activation is long (see Table 29.1). Experimental evidence providing causality for NF-κB signaling in oncogenesis has accumulated over the past several years (4), and will be detailed in this chapter.