OBJECTIVE—Absence of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) in mice reduces plasma triglycerides and provides protection from obesity and insulin resistance, which would be predicted to be associated with reduced susceptibility to atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of SCD1 deficiency on atherosclerosis. Methods and RESULTS—Despite an antiatherogenic metabolic profile, SCD1 deficiency increases atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-deficient mice challenged with a western diet. Lesion area at the aortic root is significantly increased in males and females in two models of SCD1 deficiency. Inflammatory changes are evident in the skin of these mice, including increased intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and ulcerative dermatitis. Increases in ICAM-1 and interleukin-6 are also evident in plasma of SCD1-deficient mice. HDL particles demonstrate changes associated with inflammation, including, decreased plasma apoA-II and apoA-I and paraoxonase-1 and increased plasma serum amyloid A. Lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response and cholesterol efflux are not altered in SCD1-deficient macrophages. In addition, when SCD1 deficiency is limited to bone-marrow derived cells, lesion size is not altered in LDLR-deficient mice. CONCLUSIONS—These studies reinforce the crucial role of chronic inflammation in promoting atherosclerosis, even in the presence of antiatherogenic biochemical and metabolic characteristics. [The original version of this article, along with updated information and services is located on the World Wide Web at: http://atvb.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/29/3/341] [UBC users: please click on the UBC eLink icon at the bottom of this record]

Obesity is considered an underlying risk factor for metabolic disease including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. The fractions containing flavonols from apple peel were evaluated for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic properties using in vitro and in vivo experimental model systems. The fractionated polyphenolics from apple peels showed a strong antioxidant property protecting against heat-induced oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids present in fish oil. Apple flavonols (AF), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and the isoquercitrin-EPA ester (QE) significantly reduced serum triacylglycerols and elevated the high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol compared to the high fat control group. C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 were also reduced compared to the high fat control group and inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharides. Serum adiponectin and interferon-? concentrations were significantly altered by QE treatment. Overall, AF and QE exhibited anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic effects under in vivo conditions. These beneficial physiological properties and mode of action of AF and QE need to be further investigated.

Inflammatory Airway Disease has been reported in young racehorses worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of airway inflammation in an actively racing population of horses and to describe and quantify the degree of lung lesions in this population of horses. The Ontario Death Registry program provided a unique opportunity to evaluate the lungs of actively racing horses that died or were euthanized due to catastrophic injuries while racing or training. Lung sections of 95 horses were included in the study and evaluated using a previously validated histological airway scoring system. Additionally, staining with Toluidine blue and immunohistochemical labeling was performed on a subset of horses to further characterize the inflammation. Inflammatory cell infiltration, smooth muscle hyperplasia and hemosiderin were commonly found. The airway lesion scores were significantly higher in the caudal and dorsal sections of the lungs than in other areas. There was no correlation between the individual scores and either breed, sex, age, cause of death or performance index. The inflammatory and smooth muscle scores were normally distributed and the hemosiderin score was not. The inflammatory cell infiltration was composed of mononuclear cells, with increased number of mast cells and eosinophils in 3/20 and 12/95 horses respectively. Immunohistochemical labeling showed the inflammation around the airway to be composed of 41.0% CD3-positive T cells and 5.8% CD79a-positive B cells. In addition to the airway findings, inflammatory cell aggregates were observed around the pulmonary blood vessels and in the alveolar septa in 67/95 and 71/95 horses respectively. In conclusion, this study provides a histologic evaluation of a population of actively racing horses in which airway inflammation is a common finding.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide and polyphenols are under investigation as an alternative to conventional treatment approaches of breast cancer. The anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities of polyphenols have been demonstrated in many studies, yet cellular targets and the underlying cellular mechanisms remain unclear. The overall goal of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties of polyphenol compounds extracted from the mango variety Keitt in MCF-12A breast non-cancer and MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells by assessing the modulation of signaling pathways involved in inflammation and carcinogenesis. Mango polyphenols were identified by HPLC-MS analysis. The generation of reactive oxygen species was performed using fluorescence intensity in the DCFH-DA assay. Gene expression was analyzed by qRT-PCR, and protein expression was conducted by Western Blotting and Multiplex Bead assay analysis. Bioactive compounds identified in the mango pulp by HPLC-MS included a great variety of polyphenols such as gallic acid, galloyl glucosides with different degree of polymerization and other polyphenols. The anti-inflammatory activities of mango polyphenols were evaluated in MCF-12A non cancer breast fibroblasts. An inflammatory microenvironment for MCF-12A breast cells was induced with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). The generation of reactive oxygen species was suppressed significantly compared to cells induced with TNF-α, where there was no significant difference between the concentrations of mango polyphenol extract. Results showed a significant down-regulation of mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory genes involved in the PI3K/AKT pathway and related downstream targets such as NF-κB and mTOR involved in biological processes including cell growth, proliferation and survival. Moreover, mango polyphenols had a significant impact on the miRNA-126-PI3K/AKT axis which plays an important role in inflammation and carcinogenesis, suggesting a potential anti-inflammatory underlying mechanism. The cytotoxic effects of mango polyphenols were investigated in MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells. Mango polyphenols decreased the production of reactive oxygen species; however no significant differences were found between the tested concentrations of mango polyphenols. The gene expression of proapoptotic factors involved in the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway such as cytochrome C and caspase-3 were significantly regulated after mango polyphenol treatment. In addition, the suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and downstream effectors such as HIF-1α and VEGF as well as the disruption of the miRNA-21-PTEN/AKT axis were identified as potential underlying mechanism of the cytotoxic properties of mango polyphenols. Overall, findings from this study show that mango polyphenols counteract inflammatory and cancerous cell signaling processes; therefore the potential of mango polyphenols in the prevention of breast-cancer focusing on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR-axis should be further investigated.

Fps/Fes and Fer are members of a distinct subfamily of cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinases that have recently been implicated in the regulation of innate immunity. Previous studies showed that mice lacking Fps/Fes are hyper-sensitive to systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. This study identifies physiological, cellular and molecular defects that contribute to the hyper-inflammatory phenotype in Fps/Fes-null mice. We showed that plasma tumour necrosis factor (TNF) - levels were elevated in LPS challenged Fps/Fes-null mice as compared to wild type mice, and cultured Fps/Fes-null peritoneal macrophages treated with LPS showed increased TNF- production. Cultured Fps/Fes-null macrophages also displayed prolonged LPS-induced degradation of IB-, increased phosphorylation of the p65 subunit of NF-B, and defective TLR4 internalization. Next, we showed a role for Fps in the regulation of recruitment of inflammatory leukocytes. Using the cremaster muscle intravital microscopy model, we observed increased leukocyte adherence to venules, and increased rates and degrees of transendothelial migration in Fps/Fes-null mice, compared to wild type. There was also increased neutrophil migration into the peritoneal cavity subsequent to thioglycollate challenge. Using flow cytometry, we observed prolonged expression of the selectin ligand PSGL-1 on peripheral blood neutrophils from Fps/Fes-knockout mice stimulated ex-vivo with LPS. Finally, we examined the role of Fps/Fes in regulating apoptosis in response to inflammation. Upon intra-peritoneal challenge with LPS, Fps/Fes-null mice displayed a decreased depletion of macrophages from the peritoneal cavity. In response to ex-vivo TNF- stimulation, macrophages from Fps/Fes-null mice underwent decreased apoptosis and necrosis as assessed by flow cytometry. Immunoblot analysis revealed that Fps/Fes-null macrophages displayed more TNF--induced degradation of IB-α in Fps/Fes-null cells, with corresponding increases in the phosphorylation of the p65 subunit of NF-B. In addition, stimulation of macrophages with TNF-α up-regulated PARP expression in wild-type macrophages; this up-regulation was not observed in Fps/Fes-null macrophages. Finally we observed a decreased recruitment of macrophages to the peritoneal cavities of Fps/Fes-null mice, with a corresponding increase in neutrophil recruitment, 5 days after thioglycollate challenge. Overall, we show that there is a role for Fps/Fes in regulating inflammation at the physiological, cellular, and molecular levels, and that this might be relevant in inflammatory disease. / Thesis (Ph.D, Biochemistry) -- Queen's University, 2007-08-27 11:39:23.393

Spontaneous foetal loss is the most common complication of pregnancy, affecting up to 20% of recognized pregnancies and recurring in 1-3% of cases. Abnormal maternal inflammation and systemic maternal coagulopathies are associated with foetal loss; however, the causal role of inflammation in the development of obstetric coagulopathies has not been determined. Further, questions remain as to whether maternal systemic coagulopathies are associated with placental haemostatic alterations and what role these local alterations play in foetal outcome. We hypothesized that abnormal maternal inflammation during pregnancy is causally linked to maternal coagulopathies and that these coagulopathies are associated with impaired utero-placental blood flow preceding foetal death. To induce inflammation-mediated fetal death, we administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 100-µg/kg) to Wistar rats on gestational day 14.5 and characterized the systemic maternal coagulation status 1hr post LPS administration using thromboelastograpy. Utero-placental haemostatic alterations were analyzed by periodic acid Schiff staining (PAS) and immunohistochemistry for fibrin/fibrinogen. Spiral arteriole peak flow velocity was determined by Doppler ultrasound. To determine causality between abnormal maternal inflammation, coagulopathies, and placental hemodynamics, the TNF -inhibitor etanercept (Enbrel®) was administered six hours prior to LPS administration. Systemic maternal coagulopathies were evident in 82% of LPS-treated dams and were associated with specific placental haemostatic alterations as well as reduced utero-placental blood flow. Etanercept administration prevented the development of systemic coagulopathies and placental haemostatic alterations. Furthermore, etanercept maintained normal spiral arteriole peak flow velocity. This study demonstrated that abnormal maternal inflammation is causally linked to systemic coagulopathies specific to pregnancy. Moreover, we showed that inflammation-induced systemic coagulopathies are associated with placental haemostatic alterations and reduced utero-placental blood flow preceding foetal death. Modulation of maternal inflammation may thus be useful in the prevention of coagulopathies associated with complications of pregnancy. / Thesis (Master, Anatomy & Cell Biology) -- Queen's University, 2011-08-01 14:29:12.489

Objective: Study the effects of vitamin D on viral driven innate immune responses, by looking at differences in cytokine production, receptor expression, and endogenous vitamin D levels. Methods: Primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and epithelial cells (EC) were cultured in the presence of viral ligands and vitamin D. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to determine cytokine production and mRNA expression. Results: PBMC stimulated with toll-like receptor 4 ligand (TLR4L), but not viral TLR8L, led to decreased pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3. RIG-like receptor (RLR) activation, on the other hand, in primary EC exhibited decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the presence of vitamin D. Conclusions: Our findings are among the first to show differences between bacterial and viral driven innate immune responses in the presence of vitamin D. As responsiveness in RLR activated primary EC was altered in the presence of vitamin D, our data reveal the importance of studying the immune system as a whole.

No description available.

Objective: Study the effects of vitamin D on viral driven innate immune responses, by looking at differences in cytokine production, receptor expression, and endogenous vitamin D levels. Methods: Primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and epithelial cells (EC) were cultured in the presence of viral ligands and vitamin D. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to determine cytokine production and mRNA expression. Results: PBMC stimulated with toll-like receptor 4 ligand (TLR4L), but not viral TLR8L, led to decreased pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3. RIG-like receptor (RLR) activation, on the other hand, in primary EC exhibited decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the presence of vitamin D. Conclusions: Our findings are among the first to show differences between bacterial and viral driven innate immune responses in the presence of vitamin D. As responsiveness in RLR activated primary EC was altered in the presence of vitamin D, our data reveal the importance of studying the immune system as a whole.

No description available.