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<p>Amb a 1 is the major allergen found in ragweed. Our observations have suggested that Amb a 1 may bind lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which would likely contribute to the allergenicity of Amb a 1. In order to assess whether Amb a 1 can bind LPS, peptide sequences from Amb a 1 were assayed for their ability to bind to LPS using an ELISA based LPS binding assay. A 15 amino acid sequence in the β- chain of Amb a 1 demonstrated affinity for biotin labeled <em>E. coli </em>LPS. The sequence also bound to <em>P.</em> <em>aeruginosa</em> LPS, which is structurally disparate in the lipid A region, indicating that the sequence has flexibility in recognizing different lipid A moieties, or that the binding site may not include the lipid A portion of the LPS molecule. An IL-10 ELISA was also used to determine whether the LPS bound to the peptides induced an immunological response in leukocytes. Peptides containing the LPS-binding sequence were able to bind to LPS and induce IL-10 production, suggesting the interaction between Amb a 1 and LPS may have immunological consequences. We have identified a sequence within the major ragweed allergen Amb a 1 that has the potential to bind to LPS. This indicates that the allergen may provide its own adjuvant when encountered by the immune system, leading to an enhanced immunological response to an otherwise innocuous environmental protein.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

Macrophages can be activated by a variety of extracellular signals to polarize to either the M1 (inflammatory and antimicrobial) or to the M2 (wound repair and inflammation resolution) phenotype. Expression of arginase 1 in macrophages is a key marker of the M2 phenotype. Arginase 1 expression is induced by interleukin 4 (IL-4), a cytokine secreted by Th2 helper cells. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is a product of metabolism of dietary retinol (vitamin A). In a manner analogous to hormones, ATRA binds to nuclear receptors in cells and influences gene expression and cell physiology. ATRA is important in the resolution of inflammation systemically and on the cellular level, however it has not been linked to M2 activation or arginase 1 expression. Testing the hypothesis that ATRA can induce arginase 1 in macrophages either directly or indirectly, it was found that ATRA alone cannot cause murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) to activate in the M2 phenotype (as indicated by arginase 1 expression), however it can dramatically potentiate induction of arginase 1 expression and activity by IL-4. This is the first observation positively linking ATRA to arginase 1. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is a conserved structural component of the outer membrane of Gram negative bacteria, and a potent pyrogen. In metabolic endotoxemia, LPS concentration in the blood is slightly elevated, and over the long term this contributes to diverse inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, obesity, and diabetes. LPS promotes the M1 phenotype and suppresses the M2 phenotype, but its contribution at low doses such as those found in metabolic endotoxemia are not well studied. In order to investigate mechanisms of LPS suppression at low doses, mice deficient in IRAK1 and tollip, key mediators or proinflammatory LPS signaling, were used to study IL-4, ATRA, and LPS crosstalk. LPS suppression of arginase 1 was found to be dependent on IRAK1 and tollip, but only at low doses of LPS. / Ph. D.

Obesity over the last several has become a major health concern in our country as well as the world. Obesity is also one of the risk factors which lead to several inflammatory complications such as diabetes, artherosclerosis, etc. Two leading factors involved in the causes of inflammatory complications include leptin and low dose endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, the mechanism underlying the involvement of these two mediators is not clearly understood. The purpose of this study is to understand the mechanism underlying inflammatory complications caused by leptin and low dose endotoxin most recently coined metabolic endotoxemia. Interleukin-Receptor Associated Kinase 1 (IRAK-1) is an intracellular signaling component shown to activate NFκB which leads to the induction of proinflammatory mediators. Deletion of IRAK-1 in mice has beneficial effects in alleviating inflammatory complications and human variations in IRAK-1 gene are correlated with higher risks for inflammatory diseases. Therefore, we hypothesized that IRAK-1 is critically involved for the induction of proinflammatory mediators induced by leptin and low dose LPS. IL-6 mRNA levels were measured in THP-1 (human monocytic cells) and wild type and IRAK-deficient bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) challenged with different combinations of leptin and LPS. Data shows that leptin alone will not induce inflammatory mediators. However, increased induction of IL-6 was observed in a synergistic manner involving both LPS and leptin in an IRAK-1 dependent manner causing a robust inflammatory response. With regard to the effect of low dose LPS, we observed that human monocytic cells treated with low concentrations of LPS showed a mild yet sustained induction of proinflammatory cytokines, which is contrast to the robust and transient induction of cytokines by a high dose LPS. To further determine the molecular mechanisms, we measured several key signaling molecules that include IRAK-1, IKKepsilon, and C/EBPdelta. Our study revealed a novel mechanism that appears to be distinct from the traditional NFï «B pathway responsible for the effect of low dose LPS. / Ph. D.

The establishment of non-resolving inflammation underlies the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases in humans. Super low dose (SLD) endotoxin has been associated with exacerbating inflammation and the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well studied. In this study, I tested the hypothesis that SLD endotoxin may potentiate non-resolving innate immune cell inflammation through disrupting cellular endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis. We chose to study the dynamics of ER homeostasis in macrophages stimulated with SLD endotoxin. In naïve cells, ER stressor such as tunicamycin (TM) not only will induce cellular stress and inflammation through JNK and NFkβ activation, but also will cause subsequent compensatory homeostasis through inducing homeostatic molecules such as XBP1 and GRP78/BiP. We observed that cells challenged with SLD endotoxin have significantly reduced expression of homeostatic molecules XBP1 and BiP. Mechanistically, we observed that SLD-LPS increases phosphorylated HCK expression in TM treated cells. Phosphorylated HCK activation resulted in the phosphorylation of Golgi protein GRASP, leading to unstacking of Golgi cisterna and overall dysfunction of the Golgi apparatus. Dysfunctional Golgi apparatus and its effect on protein transport and secretion, may account for decreased levels of Site 2 Protease, reduced generation of ATF6 and its transcriptional target BiP. Taken together, our study reveal that super low dose endotoxin exacerbates low grade inflammation through increasing phosphorylation of HCK, inducing Golgi dysfunction, and decreasing BiP /homeostatic protein expression in innate immune cells. / Ph. D. / Non-resolving inflammation is a common factor shared in in many chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus type 2. Low levels of endotoxin have been shown to increase inflammation as well as further increase disease development. However, how such low levels of endotoxin is able to produce this effect is not well understood. This research focuses on how low levels of endotoxin can increase inflammation by decreasing the ability of the cell to restore homeostasis. It was found that a super low dose (SLD) endotoxin decreased activation of the unfolded protein response pathway (UPR). The UPR pathway is a prominent signaling pathway utilized by the cell to restore homeostasis and is activated following an accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum of the cell. The disruption of this pathway by SLD endotoxin resulted in increased inflammatory signaling and decreased cellular homeostasis.

Lipopolissacarídeos (LPS), pode tanto proteger quanto exacerbar o desenvolvimento da asma. LPS inicia a ativação da resposta imune via ligação da molécula Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) que sinaliza por duas vias distintas, as moléculas adaptadoras MyD88 e TRIF. LPS é um adjuvante que induz resposta do tipo Th1, enquanto que o hidróxido de alumínio (Alum) desperta respostas Th2, porém, a mistura de ambos adjuvantes na indução da resposta alérgica pulmonar ainda não foi investigada. No presente estudo, nós determinamos o efeito de dois agonistas de TLR4, um natural (LPS) e outro sintético (ER-803022) adsorvidos ao Alum sobre o desenvolvimento de doença alérgica pulmonar. Os animais foram sensibilizados pela via subcutânea com os antígenos, Ovoalbumina (OVA) ou Toxóide Tetânico (TT) na presença ou ausência de agonistas de TLR4 co-adsorvidos ao Alum e desafiados com os respectivos antígenos pela via intranasal. Nossos resultados mostraram que a sensibilização com OVA ou TT e LPS coadsorvidos ao Alum, impede o estabelecimento da resposta alérgica mediada por linfócitos Th2, tais como, influxo de eosinófilos, produção de citocinas do tipo 2, hiperreatividade brônquica, secreção de muco, e produção de IgE ou IgG1 anafilática. Apesar dos níveis de IgG2a, isotipo associado com as respostas Th1 estarem aumentados, análise da histopatologia pulmonar não revelou um desvio para o padrão Th1 de inflamação. Verificamos que a presença das moléculas TLR4, MyD88, IL-12/IFN-g mas não TRIF foram necessários para LPS exercer seu efeito inibitório. O agonista sintético de TLR4, menos tóxico que LPS, também protegeu contra o desenvolvimento de inflamação alérgica pulmonar. Em conclusão, nosso trabalho esclarece o efeito da sinalização do TLR4 na sensibilização alérgica e indica que agonista sintético de TLR4 com baixa toxicidade, pode ser utilizado para modular a capacidade adjuvante do Alum e conseqüentemente diminuir a indução de alergias. / Epidemiological and experimental data suggest that bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) can either protect from or exacerbate allergic asthma. LPS triggers immune responses through Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 that in turn activates two major signaling pathways via either MyD88 or TRIF adaptor proteins. LPS is a pro-Th1 adjuvant while aluminum hydroxide (Alum) is a strong Th2 adjuvant, but the effect of mixing both adjuvants on development of lung allergy has not been investigated. We determined whether natural (LPS) or synthetic (ER-803022) TLR4 agonists adsorbed onto alum adjuvant affect allergen sensitization and development of airway allergic disease. To dissect LPS-induced molecular pathways we used TLR4, MyD88, TRIF, or IL-12/IFN-g deficient mice. Mice were sensitized subcutaneously to allergens such as ovalbumin (OVA) or tetanus toxoid (TT) with or without TLR4 agonists coadsorbed onto Alum and challenged twice via intranasal route with the same allergens. The development of type 2 immunity was evaluated 24 h after last allergen challenge. We found that sensitization with OVA or TT plus LPS co-adsorbed onto Alum impaired allergeninduced Th2-mediated responses such as airway eosinophilia, type 2 cytokines secretion, airway hyperreactivity, mucus hyper production and serum levels of IgE or IgG1 anaphylactic antibodies. Although the levels of IgG2a, a Th1 affiliated isotype increased, investigation into the lung-specific effects revealed that LPS did not induce a Th1 pattern of inflammation. LPS impaired the development of Th2 immunity, signaling via TLR4 and MyD88 molecules via the IL-12/IFN-g axis, but not through TRIF pathway. Moreover, the synthetic TLR4 agonists that proved to have a less systemic inflammatory response than LPS also protected against allergic asthma development. TLR4 agonists co-adsorbed with allergen onto Alum down modulate Th2 immunity and prevent the development of polarized T cell-mediated airway inflammation. Thus, our work clarifies the effect of TLR4 signaling in allergic sensitization and indicates that TLR4 agonists with low toxicity might be useful for down regulating the pro-Th2 adjuvant activity of alum and consequently decrease the induction of allergy.

A isquemia e reperfusão intestinal (I/R-i) é relevante fator para o desenvolvimento da síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo (SDRA). A lesão tecidual decorrente da I/R-i pode ser local e em órgãos distante do sitio isquêmico, notadamente o pulmão. Indivíduos submetidos à isquemia intestinal ao tornarem-se vulneráveis, desenvolvem resposta exacerbada a estímulos inflamatórios secundários constituindo assim a percepção de lesão decorrente de uma dupla agressão. Neste estudo desenvolvemos modelo murino de dupla agressão pulmonar ocasionada pela I/R-i seguida de estímulo da instilação nasal de LPS ou de suco gástrico (SG). A fase de caracterização do modelo de I/R-i revelou aumento de IL-6, G-CSF, KC, IP-10 e MCP-1, mas não de TNF-a no soro e em homogeneizados de pulmão e intestino. Anticorpos anti TNF-a e o etanercepte falharam em inibir o aumento de MPO pulmonar e intestinal após a I/R-i. A instilação nasal de LPS após a I/R-i aumentou a atividade pulmonar de MPO e exacerbou a permeabilidade vascular pulmonar. Neste caso, aminoguanidina ou a vimblastina reverterem o aumento da permeabilidade vascular, sugerindo a participação conjunta de neutrófilos e óxido nítrico no processo lesivo causado pela dupla agressão. A instilação nasal de SG induziu aumento inicial (2h) de MPO pulmonar seguido de influxo de neutrófilos (24h) para o espaço alveolar. Tal processo foi acompanhado por expressão inicial e transiente de TNF-a no LBA e contrabalanceada por IL-10. A resposta inflamatória aumentada de camundongos IL-10 KO à instilação de suco gástrico mostra o papel fundamental desta citocina do controle da inflamação. O rolipram ou o composto PKF 241-466 (inibidores de TNF-a) reduziram a inflamação pulmonar induzida pelo SG. A instilação de SG após a I/R-i (I/R-i +SG) exacerbou o aumento da permeabilidade vascular pulmonar. Os dados apresentados sugerem que a exposição do organismo ao trauma intestinal torna o pulmão suscetível a um estímulo secundário como o LPS e o suco gástrico. Visto a gama de estímulos inflamatórios a que indivíduos internados em unidades de terapia intensiva podem ser submetidos, os resultados deste estudo podem contribuir para a compreensão dos mecanismos reguladores do recrutamento de neutrófilos e geração de mediadores inflamatórios na síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo. / Intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) is implicated as a prime initiating event in the development of systemic inflammatory syndrome and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Several studies pointed the possibility of massive systemic inflammatory events rendering the lungs more susceptible to an exacerbated inflammatory response, the so called two-hit hypothesis. In this way, minor local inflammatory stimuli could be a trigger for ARDS. In this study we investigated the effects of low-dose LPS or gastric juice (GJ) administered by nasal instillation to mice previously submitted to intestinal I/R. Our data showed that i-I/R alone induced histological signs of edema in lung as well as an increase of lung MPO activity and IL-6, G-CSF, KC, IP-10 and MCP-1 levels. Nasal instillation of LPS following i-I/R increased lung MPO activity and exacerbated lung vascular permeability. In this case, aminoguanidine or vinblastine blocked the increase of vascular permeability, suggesting the role of neutrophils and nitric oxide in injury induced by the two-hit stimuli. Instillation of GJ induced an initial (2h) increase of lung MPO followed by the influx of neutrophils (24h) to the alveolar space. Such process was followed by the transient expression of TNF-a in BAL and balanced by IL-10. The exacerbated inflammatory response of IL-10 KO mice to GJ instillation shows the importance of this cytokine in the control of the inflammation in such model. Treatment with rolipram or PKF 241-466 compound (TNF-a inhibitors) reduced lung inflammation induced by GJ. Nasal instillation of GJ after i-I/R exacerbated the increase in lung vascular permeability. The data shown suggest that the exposition of the organism to mesenteric trauma primes the host organism to a secondary inflammatory stimulus such as LPS or gastric juice. Considering the possible multiple insults to lung to which patients in intensive care units are submitted, the results of this study might contribute to the understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of neutrophils and generation of inflammatory mediators in the context of ARDS.

Endotoxin or Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the invariant structural component of gram negative bacterial outer membranes and is the chief causative factor of Sepsis or endotoxic shock. Sepsis is a syndrome that has very high mortality rates even in this age of excellent therapeutics and critical patient care. The treatment for sepsis till date remains nonspecific and supportive due to lack of effective anti-endotoxic drugs. Sepsis is initiated when the circulating bacteria shed LPS from their cell envelopes. Shed LPS aggregates are recognized by LPS binding proteins and receptors, which activate the host's immune system. Uncontrolled and excessive stimulation of the host's immune system precipitates endotoxic shock which in advanced cases involving multiple system organ failure inevitably lead to patient's death. Many strategies have been tested out to combat this deadly affliction. One of the attractive clinical modalities in sepsis treatment is the use of peptides as LPS sequestering anti-endotoxic drugs. A classical peptide antibiotic of this class is Polymyxin B (PMB) a cyclic cationic acylated molecule, that recognizes LPS with a very high affinity. This thesis describes kinetics and thermodynamics of PMB-LPS interactions and applies these parameters over a framework of different models so as to gain insights into the structure-function relationships that govern the interactions of this peptide with endotoxin(s). Classical biophysical techniques like fluorescence, circular dichroism spectroscopy, stopped flow kinetics, titration calorirnetry (ITC) and the relatively new technique of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) have been employed to dissect out the mechanism of the range of non-covalent forces that are involved in peptide-endotoxin recognition. Certain proteins that exhibit LPS binding activity have also been studied to gains insight about their mode of action. Implications of these studies for designing peptides that have better anti-endotoxic properties are also highlighted. The first chapter introduces and highlights the clinical features of sepsis. It also attempts to shed light on the LPS mediated signal transduction pathway that leads to endotoxic shock. This chapter also briefly explains the roles of many LPS receptors that are present in the human system and their specific roles in the signal transduction pathways. The second part of this chapter deals with the role of cationic peptides as anti-endotoxic drugs. Certain key functional aspects of these peptides, which impart in them, the desirable property of LPS recognition have also been discussed The second chapter describes the kinetic studies undertaken to unravel the exact mechanism of LPS-PMB interaction. The studies reveal that PMB recognizes LPS in a biphasic manner, with the second, unimolecular isomerization step of the reaction being the rate-limiting step. The initial reaction is shown to be influenced by the presence of salt in the reaction medium. The dissociation phase of this interaction also shows a biphasic pattern. These data allow us to speculate upon the exact mechanism by which PMB is able to recognize LPS. The studies also shed light on some structural aspects that govern and confer such high LPS binding activity to PMB. Based on these a model has been proposed to explain this recognition (C.J. Thomas et al, 1998). The second chapter discuses the mode of action of various PMB analogs. These analogs have been chosen in terms of their mode of action as well as their structural similarly to PMB. The affinities of these analogs to LPS and lipid A were quantified using the Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) method. SPR, a technique that relies on the quantification of change in mass during a binary binding process occurring between an immobilized entity and a flowing ligand, is a rapid and sensitive method to measure biologically relevant interactions. SPR studies provide us with the binding constants and thermodynamic parameters that allow evaluation of the affinities of these peptides towards LPS (C.J.Thomas and A.Surolia, 1999). The third chapter discusses a hitherto unknown mode by which PMB acts on a LPS lamellae. The results of this study wherein the binding affinities of PMB and its analogs were performed on monolayers and tethered liposomes, show that PMB is able to remove specifically LPS or lipid A from monolayers or bilayer assemblies such as tethered liposomes. The exact mode of action of PMB is deciphered in the light of these new studies, which allow us to posit on the observed efficacy of PMB in neutralizing the endotoxin as compared to peptides with nearly similar affinities for LPS (C.J Thomas et al 1999). In the fourth chapter a series of 23 residue peptides, based on the sequence corresponding to the anti-sense strand of magainin gene have been synthesized. Magainin an amphiphilic helical peptide obtained from frog skins plays a vital role in the innate immune defense mechanisms of these organisms. It also exhibits LPS binding activity that makes it an attractive target as an anti-endotoxic drug. Biochemical and biophysical characterization of these peptides reveal that they have the tendency to perturb both the inner and the outer membranes of E.coli. The peptides are amphiphilic and have helical structure in a membrane bound environment. Three of the peptides tested have high affinities for lipid A that approach the values shown by PMB. The kinetic parameters obtained by stopped flow and SPR studies in conjunction with the therrnodynamic parameters obtained using ITC studies allow us to highlight the key structural features that need to be exhibited by peptides that are designed to be LPS recognizers. The studies also project the fact that ionic forces play an important role in the initial recognition of LPS by these peptides. Fortification of the might of these ionic charges increases affinity for LPS where as the hydrophobic residues that interact at the next phase of binding are more amenable to disruptions in contiguity. These factors are discussed using the helical wheel diagram that shows the clear amphiphilicity displayed by these peptides. (C.J Thomas et al Manuscript under preparation, 2000) Chapter six discusses the mode of action of certain LPS binding proteins. Limulus anti endotoxic factor (LALF) plays a vital role in the innate immune based defense systems of the horseshoe crab. Galectin-3 is a metal ion independent, galactosc binding Icctin of human origin with unknown functions. Both these phylogcntically-unrclatcd proteins exhibit LPS/lipid A recognizing properties. ITC and SPR studies have been used to determine the binding constants displayed by these proteins for lipid A. LALF bind to lipid A with very high affinity than compared to Galectin-3 and is also able to take away selectively lipid A from both monolayers and tethered liposomes. Galectin-3 does not show this property of LALF, which might account for its lowered affinities. Also structurally LALF has amphiphilic nature that confers high lipid A binding activity, which is clearly lacking in Galectin-3. These studies in conjunction with the knowledge gained from the study of LPS-PMB interaction stress on the importance of amphiphilicity in LPS recognition. (C.J Thomas et al Manuscript under preparation, 2000). The final chapter is a general discussion that attempts to collate all these kinetic and thermodynamic observations in the pursuit of designing small easily manipulatable peptides that exhibit high LPS binding activity. These studies are aimed to act as rough guidelines to the design of LPS sequestering peptides that might have better therapeutic and pharmacokinetic properties. The appendix to the main body of work presented in thesis are two pieces of work pertaining to the elucidation the kinetics and mechanism of sugar lectin interactions, when sugars are presented as glycolipids in monolayers or bilaycrs liposomes. Mode of the presentation of sugars at cell-surfaces in the form of glycolipids as ligands influence their recognition by macromolecular receptors like lectins. Appendix 1 is a study of the mode of action of Ulex europeus I lectin binding to H-fucolipid containing tethered liposomes, by SPR. Fucosylated sugars are often used as key markers in histochemical analysis of malignant cancerous tissues. Ulex lectin plays a vital role as a marker for identification of these tissues. The kinetics and thermodynamic parameters that are obtained in this study throw some light on the mode of recognition of glycolipid receptor by Ulex europeus I lectin (C.J Thomas and A. Surolia 2000). Appendix 2 is a study, that attempts to quantify the initial kinetic parameters that correlate the recognition of glycolipid receptors with their inclination at the membrane surface and the influence of charge on them by soyabean agglutinin (SBA), Abrus agglutinin I and II. Studies on the soyabean agglutinin-globoside interaction highlights the divalent cation mediated reorientation of these receptors on their accessibility and recognition to the agglutinin. The divalent cations are speculated to orient the oligosaccharide head groups in a spatial geometry that allows a heightened kinetics of their interaction by SBA. These studies reveal that the reorganization of the binding pocket of a lectin can also have a profound influence on ihc rates of recognition of a glycospingolipid ligand by a lectin as exemplified by Abrus agglutinin II- GM1 interactions (C.J Thomas ct al, Manuscript under preparation).