The enzyme phospholipase A2 (PLA2) specifically hydrolyzes the 2-acyl ester bond of 1,2-diacyl-3-sn-phosphoglycerides releasing fatty acids and lysophospholipids in the presence of Ca2+. Both products represent precursors for signaling molecules that can exert a multitude of biological functions including phospholipid metabolism, exocytosis and inflammation. Consequently, PLA2 not only plays a role in regulating physiological processes, but also exhibits pharmacological effects in inflammatory diseases. Nevertheless, the signaling pathway leading to cell death still remains elusive. In the present study, the cytotoxicity of Naja naja atra PLA2 toward human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells and leukemia K562 cells were respectively evaluated to explore the signaling pathway of PLA2-induced cell death. Upon exposure to PLA2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) or c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation, extracellularsignal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) inactivation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (£G£Zm), cytochrome c release and upregulation of Fas/FasL were found in SK-N-SH or K562 cells. N-Acetylcysteine (ROS scavenger), BAPTA-AM (Ca2+ chelator), SB202190 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) or SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) abrogated p38 MAPK or JNK activation and rescued cell viability, £G£Zm, cytochrome c release and suppressed Fas/FasL upregulation of PLA2-treated cells, but restored phosphorylation of ERK. Activated ERK was found to attenuate p38 MAPK-mediated upregulation of Fas/FasL. Besides, sustained JNK activation was also observed in SB202190/PLA2-treated K562 cells after exterminating p38 MAPK activation, but also retained the cytotoxicity of PLA2. Knockdown of p38 MAPK or JNK1 by siRNA proved that PLA2 induced Fas/FasL upregulation through p38 MAPK/ATF-2 or JNK1/c-Jun pathways in K562 cells. Furthermore, deprivation of catalytic activity could not diminish PLA2-induced cell death and Fas/FasL upregulation. The cytotoxicity of arachidonic acid (AA) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) was not related to the expression of Fas/FasL. The results showed that the cytotoxicity of AA is mediated through mitochondria-dependent death pathway, eliciting by AA-induced ROS generation and Ca2+-evoked activation of p38 MAPK and JNK. Besides, ERK activation abrogated by U0126 improved the ability of AA-mediated Fas/FasL upregulation in K562 cells. Taken together, our results indicate that PLA2-induced cell death is through Ca2+- and ROS evoked p38 MAPK or JNK activation. Upregulation of Fas/FasL partially involves in cytotoxicity of PLA2.

The mammalian pregnancy comprises a challenge to the maternal immune system since the fetus is semi-allogeneic and could thus be rejected. Pregnancy success is associated with the placenta that is not only essential for oxygen supply, nourishment and pregnancy hormones but also plays a role in the protection of the fetus against maternal immunologic attack. The aim of the current studies was to elucidate the role of human placenta as an immunomodulatory organ with a special focus on placental exosomes as vehicles for establishment of maternal tolerance to the fetus. We discovered that the syncytiotrophoblast in human normal pregnancy constitutively produces and secretes exosomes. Exosomes are 30-100 nanometer-sized membrane vesicles of endosomal origin that convey intercellular communication. Exosomes are produced and released through the endosomal compartment and reflect the type and the activation state of the cells that produce and secrete them. They carry cytosolic and membrane-bound proteins and nucleic acids and can influence and re-program recipient cells. Depending on their interactions with cells of the immune system they can be divided into immunostimulatory or immunosuppressive. We developed methods for isolation and culture of trophoblast and placental explants from human normal first trimester pregnancy and isolated exosomes from the culture supernatants.  These exosomes were characterized biochemically and functionally regarding mechanisms with potential importance in the establishment of maternal tolerance towards the fetus. The following aspects were studied: 1) exosomal modulation of the NKG2D receptor-ligand system, a major cytotoxic pathway for NK- and cytotoxic T cells and thus potentially dangerous to the fetus; 2) placental exosome-mediated apoptosis of activated immune effector cells; and 3) Foxp3-expressing T regulatory cells in human pregnant uterine mucosa, the decidua. Using immuno electron microscopy we show that human early syncytiotrophoblast constitutively expresses the stress-inducible NKG2D ligands MICA/B and ULBP1-5, and the apoptosis inducing molecules FasL and TRAIL. While MICA/B were expressed both on the cell surface and intracellularly on the limiting membrane of multivesicular bodies (MVB) and on exosomes, the ULBP1-5, FasL and TRAIL  were solely  processed through the MVB of the endosomal compartment and secreted on exosomes. The NKG2D ligand-expressing placental exosomes were able to internalize the cognate receptor from the cell surface of activated NK- and T cells thus down regulating their cytotoxic function. In our studies of apoptosis we found that placental exosomes carry the proapoptotic ligands FasL and TRAIL in their active form as a hexameric complex of two homotrimeric molecules, required for triggering of the apoptotic signaling pathways. This finding was supported by the ability of isolated placental FasL/TRAIL expressing exosomes to induce apoptosis in activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and Jurkat T cells. Additionally, we studied Foxp3-expressing T regulatory (Treg) cells in paired human decidual and blood samples from pregnant women compared to non-pregnant controls. The CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells were 10 fold enriched in the decidual mucosa compared to peripheral blood of pregnant women and non-pregnant controls. We discovered a pool of Foxp3-expressing, CD4+CD25- cells in human decidua, a phenotype consistent with naïve/precursor Foxp3+ Treg cells. These results suggest local enrichment of Treg cells in decidua of normal pregnancy. Furthermore, we have results indicating that the exosomes, isolated from placental explant cultures, carry PD-L1 and TGFβ on their surface, molecules known to promote induction of Treg cells. Taken together, our results provide evidence that placental exosomes are immunosuppressive and underline their role in the maternal immune modulation during pregnancy. The constitutive production and secretion of immunosuppressive placental exosomes create a protective exosomal gradient in the blood surrounding the feto-placental unit. This “cloud of immunosuppressive exosomes” conveys immunologic privilege to the developing fetus and thus contributes to the solution of the immunological challenge of mammalian pregnancy.

Les endocannabinoïdes, anandamide (AEA) et 2-arachidonoylglycérol (2-AG), appartiennent au système endocannabinoïde et sont impliqués dans la régulation de nombreux systèmes biologiques. Ils ont un rôle dans la modulation du système immunitaire et la défense anti-tumorale. Dans cette étude, nous avons montré que l'AEA et le 2-AG peuvent moduler l'activation des cellules Natural Killer CD56 + CD3- (NK) et des cellules NK92. A de faibles doses, ils potentialisent la production d'IFN γ induite par des doses suboptimales d'IL-12, d'IL-15 et d'IL-2. En outre, l'AEA et le 2-AG potentialisent la cytotoxicité des cellules NK. Des expériences de quantification des transcrits codant FasL, TRAIL, perforine et granzyme et des expériences d'inhibition indiquent que cette augmentation de la cytotoxicité est corrélée à une augmentation de l'expression de FasL, tandis que la production de granzyme, de perforine et l'expression TRAIL reste inchangées. Les effets des endocannabinoides sur les cellules NK sont inhibés en présence d'un antagoniste du récepteur endocannabinoidien de type 2 (CB2). Ces travaux in vitro on été confirmés in vivo sur un model de tumeur murine. Les cellules NK murines stimulées ex-vivo par les endocannabinoides et réinjectées en intra-tumoral, induisent un ralentissement significatif de la croissance tumorale Ces résultats montrent pour la première fois que les endocannabinoïdes AEA et 2-AG utilisées à faible dose sont impliqués dans la modulation des activités régulatrices (objectivée par la production d'IFN γ) et cytotoxiques des cellules NK.

Abstract The function of the transmembrane protein FasL is to complex with the Fas receptor in a target cell and induce target cell apoptosis. Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis plays important role in immunoregulation. FasL expression is mostly seen in activated lymphocytes. We have characterized endothelial FasL expression in different functional compartments of lymph nodes and gut-associated lymphoid tissue. Furthermore, we have explored the functional role of endothelial FasL expression by analyzing correlation with apoptosis of lymphocyte subpopulations in lymph nodes and by assessing endothelial expression under different conditions by activation of immune functions in gastrointestinal mucosa. Immunohistochemical stainings (Fas, FasL, CD3, CD20, CD19, CD23, CD56, FVIII) were performed on 20 reactive lymph node tissues (I and II), 60 pediatric endoscopy biopsy samples (III) or 60 samples from gut resections (IV). A double-staining method combining apoptosis detection with the TUNEL-method and lymphocyte classification with FasL, Fas and cell lineage markers was optimized. Patient groups included non-pathological lymph nodes, pediatric cow’s milk-sensitive enteropathy, pediatric celiac disease, appendicitis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Control groups included normal biopsy samples from pediatric patients and non-pathological resecate samples from the appendix, colon or ileum to correspond to patient groups. Quantitative analysis (positive vessels or cells per mm2) was performed thoroughly for each anatomical region. In a subset of patients, soluble FasL in the serum was quantified with standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In reactive lymph nodes FasL expression was predominantly present in high endothelial venules located in the paracortical area, where apoptotic T and B lymphocytes, some expressing Fas, were subsequently found. In the gut wall vascular FasL expression was seen in high endothelial vessels near lymphoid follicles. Serum FasL was elevated in children with an abundance of mucosal lymphoid follicles. In IBD, vascular FasL was upregulated in ulcers and in the submucosa of colons affected by Crohn’s disease. The results indicate that endothelial FasL is characteristically present in high endothelial venules of lymphoid tissues. Detection of apoptotic Fas expressing lymphocytes adjacent to such vessels supports the idea that endothelial FasL functions as a selective gatekeeper by inducing apoptosis of Fas+ lymphocytes entering from the blood stream. / Tiivistelmä Solukalvon läpäisevän proteiinin, FasL:n, tehtävä on sitoutua kohdesolun Fas-reseptoriin ja indusoida kohdesolun apoptoosi. Fas/FasL-välitteinen apoptoosi on merkittävä tekijä immunologisessa säätelyssä. FasL ilmentyy pääsääntöisesti aktivoituneissa lymfosyyteissä. Olemme kuvanneet tutkimuksessamme FasL:n endoteelistä ilmentymistä imukudoksen eri toiminnallisissa alueissa ja suoliston lymfaattisessa kudoksessa. Lisäksi kartoitimme endoteelin FasL:n toiminnallista merkitystä analysoimalla sen yhteyttä lymfosyyttien alaryhmien apoptoosiin imusolmukkeissa ja arvioimalla FasL:n endoteelistä ilmentymistä suoliston limakalvon immunologisesti erilaisissa sairauksissa. Teimme immunohistokemiallisia värjäyksiä (Fas, FasL, CD3, CD20, CD19, CD23, CD56 ja FVIII) 20 reaktiiviselle imusolmukkeelle (I ja II), 60 lapsen endoskooppiselle biopsianäytteelle (III) sekä 60 suoliresekaattinäytteelle (IV). Optimoimme kaksoisvärjäysmenetelmän, missä yhdistettiin apoptoosin havainnointimenetelmä TUNEL ja FasL-, Fas- tai solulinjamarkkeri. Potilasryhmiin kuului potilaita, joilla oli normaalit imusolmukkeet, sekä potilaita, jotka sairastivat lasten viivästynyttä lehmänmaitoallergiaa, lasten keliakiaa, umpilisäketulehdusta, haavaista paksusuolitulehdusta tai Crohnin tautia. Verrokkiryhmiin kuului normaaleja biopsianäytteitä lapsipotilailta sekä terveitä resekaattinäytteitä umpilisäkkeestä sekä paksu- tai sykkyräsuolesta potilasryhmien mukaisesti. Jokaiselle anatomiselle alueelle suoritimme perusteellisen määrällisen analyysin (positiivista suonta tai solua per mm2). Osalle ryhmistä suoritimme seerumin liukoisen FasL:n määrityksen entsyymivälitteisellä immunosorbenttimäärityksellä. Reaktiivisissa imusolmukkeissa FasL:n ilmentyminen näkyi pääsääntöisesti parakortikaalialueen korkeaendoteelisissä venuleissa, missä myös apoptoottiset T- ja B-lymfosyytit (joista osa ilmensi Fasia) sittemmin näkyivät. Suoliston seinämässä havaitsimme verisuoniperäistä FasL:n ilmentymistä korkeaendoteelisissä suonissa lymfaattisten itukeskusten lähettyvillä. Niillä lapsipotilailla, joilla havaitsimme limakalvon lymfaattisten itukeskuksien lisääntymistä, oli myös seerumin FasL-pitoisuus koholla. Tulehduksellisissa suolistosairauksissa verisuoniperäinen FasL oli lisääntynyt limakalvon haavaumissa sekä Crohnin tautia sairastavien potilaiden submukoosassa. Tulokset osoittavat verisuoniperäisen FasL:n tyypillisesti ilmentyvän imukudoksen korkeaendoteelisissa suonissa. Apoptoosin havaitseminen Fasia ilmentävissä lymfosyyteissä näiden suonien läheisyydessä tukee ajatusta siitä, kuinka verisuoniperäinen FasL toimii valikoivana portinvartijana ja aiheuttaa Fas-positiivisten lymfosyyttien apoptoosin estämällä niiden pääsyn verenkierrosta.