Intracellular parasites from the Leishmania genus cause Leishmaniasis, a disease affecting millions of people worldwide. NLRP3 inflammasome is key for disease outcome, but the molecular mechanisms ...upstream of the inflammasome activation are still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that despite the absence of pyroptosis, Gasdermin-D (GSDMD) is active at the early stages of Leishmania infection in macrophages, allowing transient cell permeabilization, potassium efflux, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Further, GSDMD is processed into a non-canonical 25 kDa fragment. Gsdmd
macrophages and mice exhibit less NLRP3 inflammasome activation and are highly susceptible to infection by several Leishmania species, confirming the role of GSDMD for inflammasome-mediated host resistance. Active NLRP3 inflammasome and GSDMD are present in skin biopsies of patients, demonstrating activation of this pathway in human leishmaniasis. Altogether, our findings reveal that Leishmania subverts the normal functions of GSDMD, an important molecule to promote inflammasome activation and immunity in Leishmaniasis.
COVID-19 has affected more than half a billion people worldwide, with more than 6.3 million deaths, but the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in lethal cases and the host determinants that ...determine the different clinical outcomes are still unclear. In this study, we assessed lung autopsies of 47 COVID-19 patients and examined the inflammatory profiles, viral loads, and inflammasome activation. Additionally, we correlated these factors with the patient's clinical and histopathological conditions. Robust inflammasome activation was detected in the lungs of lethal cases of SARS-CoV-2. Experiments conducted on transgenic mice expressing hACE2 and infected with SARS-CoV-2 showed that Nlrp3.sup.-/- mice were protected from disease development and lethality compared to Nlrp3.sup.+/+ littermate mice, supporting the involvement of this inflammasome in disease exacerbation. An analysis of gene expression allowed for the classification of COVID-19 patients into two different clusters. Cluster 1 died with higher viral loads and exhibited a reduced inflammatory profile than Cluster 2. Illness time, mechanical ventilation time, pulmonary fibrosis, respiratory functions, histopathological status, thrombosis, viral loads, and inflammasome activation significantly differed between the two clusters. Our data demonstrated two distinct profiles in lethal cases of COVID-19, thus indicating that the balance of viral replication and inflammasome-mediated pulmonary inflammation led to different clinical outcomes. We provide important information to understand clinical variations in severe COVID-19, a process that is critical for decisions between immune-mediated or antiviral-mediated therapies for the treatment of critical cases of COVID-19.
The severe forms and worsened outcomes of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 19) are closely associated with hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Endothelial cells express Angiotensin-Converting ...Enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is the entrance door for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The hallmarks of severe illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection are increased levels of IL-6, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, ferritin, neutrophilia and lymphopenia, pulmonary intravascular coagulopathy and microthrombi of alveolar capillaries. The endothelial glycocalyx, a proteoglycan- and glycoprotein-rich layer covering the luminal side of endothelial cells, contributes to vascular homeostasis. It regulates vascular tonus and permeability, prevents thrombosis, and modulates leukocyte adhesion and inflammatory response. We hypothesized that cytokine production and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation associated with COVID-19 leads to glycocalyx degradation. A cohort of 20 hospitalized patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Mechanisms associated with glycocalyx degradation in COVID-19 were investigated. Increased plasma concentrations of IL-6 and IL1-β, as well as increased lipid peroxidation and glycocalyx components were detected in plasma from COVID-19 patients compared to plasma from healthy subjects. Plasma from COVID-19 patients induced glycocalyx shedding in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and disrupted redox balance. Treatment of HUVECs with low molecular weight heparin inhibited the glycocalyx perturbation. In conclusion, plasma from COVID-19 patients promotes glycocalyx shedding and redox imbalance in endothelial cells, and heparin treatment potentially inhibits glycocalyx disruption.
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•Endothelial cells are a crucial interface between blood and tissues, maintaining vascular homeostasis•SARS-CoV-2 infection threatens endothelial function by increasing cytokines and ROS, thus shedding the endothelial glycocalyx•Plasma from COVID-19 patients disrupts the glycocalyx, which is prevented by heparin/LMWH
The NLRP3 inflammasome is activated in response to multiple stimuli and triggers activation of caspase-1 (CASP1), IL-1β production, and inflammation. NLRP3 activation requires two signals. The first ...leads to transcriptional regulation of specific genes related to inflammation, and the second is triggered when pathogens, toxins, or specific compounds damage cellular membranes and/or trigger the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we assess the requirement of the first signal (priming) for the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) infected with Leishmania amazonensis. We found that BMDMs express the inflammasome components NLRP3, ASC, and CASP1 at sufficient levels to enable the assembly and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in response to infection. Therefore, priming was not required for the formation of ASC specks, CASP1 activation (measured by fluorescent dye FAM-YVAD), and restriction of L. amazonensis replication via the NLRP3 inflammasome. By contrast, BMDM priming was required for CASP1 cleavage (p20) and IL-1β secretion, because priming triggers robust up-regulation of pro-IL-1β and CASP11 that are important for efficient processing of CASP1 and IL-1β. Taken together, our data shed light into the cellular and molecular processes involved in activation of the NLRP3 in macrophages by Leishmania, a process that is important for the outcome of Leishmaniasis.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection triggers activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which promotes inflammation and aggravates severe COVID-19. Here, we report that ...SARS-CoV-2 induces upregulation and activation of human caspase-4/CASP4 (mouse caspase-11/CASP11), and this process contributes to NLRP3 activation. In vivo infections performed in transgenic hACE2 humanized mice, deficient or sufficient for Casp11, indicate that hACE2 Casp11-/- mice were protected from disease development, with the increased pulmonary parenchymal area, reduced clinical score of the disease, and reduced mortality. Assessing human samples from fatal cases of COVID-19, we found that CASP4 was expressed in patient lungs and correlated with the expression of inflammasome components and inflammatory mediators, including CASP1, IL1B, IL18, and IL6. Collectively, our data establish that CASP4/11 promotes NLRP3 activation and disease pathology, revealing a possible target for therapeutic interventions for COVID-19.
Mitochondria play a central role in the host response to viral infection and immunity, being key to antiviral signaling and exacerbating inflammatory processes. Mitochondria and Toll-like receptor ...(TLR) have been suggested as potential targets in SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the involvement of TLR9 in SARS-Cov-2-induced endothelial dysfunction and potential contribution to cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 have not been demonstrated. This study determined whether infection of endothelial cells by SARS-CoV-2 affects mitochondrial function and induces mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) release. We also questioned whether TLR9 signaling mediates the inflammatory responses induced by SARS-CoV-2 in endothelial cells.
Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were infected by SARS-CoV-2 and immunofluorescence was used to confirm the infection. Mitochondrial function was analyzed by specific probes and mtDNA levels by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Inflammatory markers were measured by ELISA, protein expression by western blot, intracellular calcium (Ca2+) by FLUOR-4, and vascular reactivity with a myography.
SARS-CoV-2 infected HUVECs, which express ACE2 and TMPRSS2 proteins, and promoted mitochondrial dysfunction, i.e. it increased mitochondria-derived superoxide anion, mitochondrial membrane potential, and mtDNA release, leading to activation of TLR9 and NF-kB, and release of cytokines. SARS-CoV-2 also decreased nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression and inhibited Ca2+ responses in endothelial cells. TLR9 blockade reduced SARS-CoV-2-induced IL-6 release and prevented decreased eNOS expression. mtDNA increased vascular reactivity to endothelin-1 (ET-1) in arteries from wild type, but not TLR9 knockout mice. These events were recapitulated in serum samples from COVID-19 patients, that exhibited increased levels of mtDNA compared to sex- and age-matched healthy subjects and patients with comorbidities.
SARS-CoV-2 infection impairs mitochondrial function and activates TLR9 signaling in endothelial cells. TLR9 triggers inflammatory responses that lead to endothelial cell dysfunction, potentially contributing to the severity of symptoms in COVID-19. Targeting mitochondrial metabolic pathways may help to define novel therapeutic strategies for COVID-19.
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•Serum of COVID-19 patients present high levels of mtDNA•SARS-CoV-2 infects endothelial cells, which express ACE2 and TMPRSS2 proteins•SARS-CoV-2 promotes mitochondrial dysfunction, mtDNA release, TLR9 activation, and cytokines release•mtDNA induces vascular dysfunction in wild-type, but not TLR9 KO mice•TLR9 antagonism reduces IL-6 production in endothelial cells infected by SARS-CoV-2
Brazilian green propolis from Baccharis dracunculifolia (“alecrim do campo”), stands out for the majority presence of phenolic acids with therapeutic properties well‐described in the literature, such ...as anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor. However, its direct application, like many natural products, is limited due to its unfavorable physicochemical properties. Thus, we hypothesize that the encapsulation of these compounds in nanostructured systems is a suitable instrument to overcome these limitations. In this work, an oil/water (O/W) nanoemulsion containing Brazilian green propolis extract (NE‐BGP) was developed, and its bioactivity was evaluated in vivo and in vitro experimental models. Quantitative analysis by HPLC showed the presence of coumaric acid, artepelin C and baccharin in the standardized extract obtained, corresponding to 3.2%, 16.8% and 2.3% (w/w), respectively. The developed nanoemulsion showed high stability evaluated for 90 days, with the size around 130 nm, PdI less than 0.3, and negatively charged zeta potential (‐20 mV). The encapsulation efficiency of the markers evaluated in NE‐BGP determined by the validated UPLC‐MS method was superior to 97% for 90 days. Morphological analysis using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed globular and spherical shapes. The cytotoxicity was evaluated in 3T3 (murine fibroblasts) and AMJ2‐C11 (murine alveolar macrophages) cells and showed IC50 between 20.88 and 49.32 µg/mL after 24 hours of treatment by the neutral red method, respectively. The in vitro anti‐inflammatory activity in AMJ2‐C11 cells stimulated with LPS 5 µg/mL showed a significant reduction in the levels of nitric oxide (NO), as well as cytokines quantified by CBA (Cytometric Bead Array), IFN‐γ, IL‐4, and IL‐6 in cells treated with NE‐BGP (15 µg/ml) when compared to the control group. Male Balb/C mice (n=5) were used to evaluate the in vivo anti‐inflammatory activity. NE‐BGP administered orally at 100mg/Kg showed a reduction in edema, in the number of inflammatory cells in the joints, and an increase in the mechanical threshold reducing nociceptive stimuli in zymosan‐induced mice arthritis. These results indicate that the developed formulation is an exciting system to encapsulate green propolis extract with high physicochemical stability, anti‐inflammatory and analgesic effects, suggesting NE‐BGP is a possible candidate for the arthritis treatment.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induces mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 in most cases, but some patients develop an excessive inflammatory process that can be fatal. As the ...NLRP3 inflammasome and additional inflammasomes are implicated in disease aggravation, drug repositioning to target inflammasomes emerges as a strategy to treat COVID-19. Here, we performed a high-throughput screening using a 2560 small-molecule compound library and identified FDA-approved drugs that function as pan-inflammasome inhibitors. Our best hit, niclosamide (NIC), effectively inhibits both inflammasome activation and SARS-CoV-2 replication. Mechanistically, induction of autophagy by NIC partially accounts for inhibition of NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes, but NIC-mediated inhibition of NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome are autophagy independent. NIC potently inhibited inflammasome activation in human monocytes infected in vitro, in PBMCs from patients with COVID-19, and in vivo in a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study provides relevant information regarding the immunomodulatory functions of this promising drug for COVID-19 treatment.
Severe cases of COVID-19 are characterized by a strong inflammatory process that may ultimately lead to organ failure and patient death. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a molecular platform that promotes ...inflammation via cleavage and activation of key inflammatory molecules including active caspase-1 (Casp1p20), IL-1β, and IL-18. Although participation of the inflammasome in COVID-19 has been highly speculated, the inflammasome activation and participation in the outcome of the disease are unknown. Here we demonstrate that the NLRP3 inflammasome is activated in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and is active in COVID-19 patients. Studying moderate and severe COVID-19 patients, we found active NLRP3 inflammasome in PBMCs and tissues of postmortem patients upon autopsy. Inflammasome-derived products such as Casp1p20 and IL-18 in the sera correlated with the markers of COVID-19 severity, including IL-6 and LDH. Moreover, higher levels of IL-18 and Casp1p20 are associated with disease severity and poor clinical outcome. Our results suggest that inflammasomes participate in the pathophysiology of the disease, indicating that these platforms might be a marker of disease severity and a potential therapeutic target for COVID-19.
Sodium titanate nanotubes (NaTiNT) were synthesized using the hydrothermal method; subsequently, ion exchange reactions were carried out on the ions of Na
+
present in the lamellar spaces of ...nanotubes by the intercalation of Ga
3+
and/or Ce
4+
and/or, revealing the presence of phases like: α-GaOOH and CeO
2
, probably decorating the surface of the nanotubes showing a complex heterostructure. As far as we know, these are the first titanate nanotubes intercalated with these two ions, gallium, and cerium, reported in the literature. Ion exchange processes preserved the original tubular structure of titanate nanotubes with relevant changes in their surface and interlamellar environment. It is known by the researchers that titanate nanotubes have low toxicity and acceptable biocompatibility. Here, we show that the insertion of Ce
4+
and/or Ga
3+
in titanate nanotubes increased its cytotoxic activity in melanoma cells, indicating that these hybrid nanomaterials are promising in future for health applications.
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