TY - JOUR A1 - Kunzmann, Steffen A1 - Hütten, Matthias A1 - Ottensmeier, Barbara A1 - Kramer, Boris W. A1 - Fehrholz, Markus T1 - A20 is increased in fetal lung in a sheep LPS model of chorioamnionitis JF - Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity N2 - Chorioamnionitis is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and aggravates adverse outcomes such as BPD. Development of BPD is associated with chronic inflammatory reactions and oxidative stress in the airways which may be antenatally initiated by chorioamnionitis. A20 is an immunomodulatory protein involved in the negative feedback regulation of inflammatory reactions and is a possible regulator protein in oxidative stress reactions. The influence of chorioamnionitis on A20 gene regulation in the fetal lung is unknown. We characterized the influence of LPS and proinflammatory cytokines on A20 expression in human lung endothelial (HPMEC-ST1.6R) and epithelial (A549) cells in vitro by real-time PCR and/or western blotting and used a sheep model of LPS-induced chorioamnionitis for in vivo studies. To study the functional role of A20, endogenous A20 was overexpressed in HPMEC-ST1.6R and A549 cells. LPS induced proinflammatory cytokines in HPMEC-ST1.6R and A549 cells. Both LPS and/or proinflammatory cytokines elevated A20 at transcriptional and translational levels. Intra-amniotic LPS transiently increased IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α mRNA levels in fetal lamb lungs, associated with an increase in A20 mRNA and protein levels. Overexpression of A20 reduced proinflammatory cytokines in vitro. Repeated LPS exposure induced LPS tolerance for proinflammatory cytokines and A20 in vitro and in vivo. Antenatal inflammation induced a transient increase in proinflammatory cytokines in the preterm fetal lung. The expression of proinflammatory cytokines increased expression of A20. Elevated A20 may have a protective role by downregulating chorioamnionitis-triggered fetal lung inflammation. A20 may be a novel target for pharmacological interventions to prevent chorioamnionitis-induced airway inflammation and lung damage, which can result in BPD later in life. KW - Chorioamnionitis Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-265869 VL - 2022 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fehrholz, Markus A1 - Glaser, Kirsten A1 - Speer, Christian P. A1 - Seidenspinner, Silvia A1 - Ottensmeier, Barbara A1 - Kunzmann, Steffen T1 - Caffeine modulates glucocorticoid-induced expression of CTGF in lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts JF - Respiratory Research N2 - Background: Although caffeine and glucocorticoids are frequently used to treat chronic lung disease in preterm neonates, potential interactions are largely unknown. While anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids are well defined, their impact on airway remodeling is less characterized. Caffeine has been ascribed to positive effects on airway inflammation as well as remodeling. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF, CCN2) plays a key role in airway remodeling and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic lung diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. The current study addressed the impact of glucocorticoids on the regulation of CTGF in the presence of caffeine using human lung epithelial and fibroblast cells. Methods: The human airway epithelial cell line H441 and the fetal lung fibroblast strain IMR-90 were exposed to different glucocorticoids (dexamethasone, budesonide, betamethasone, prednisolone, hydrocortisone) and caffeine. mRNA and protein expression of CTGF, TGF-β1-3, and TNF-α were determined by means of quantitative real-time PCR and immunoblotting. H441 cells were additionally treated with cAMP, the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin, and the selective phosphodiesterase (PDE)-4 inhibitor cilomilast to mimic caffeine-mediated PDE inhibition. Results: Treatment with different glucocorticoids (1 μM) significantly increased CTGF mRNA levels in H441 (p < 0.0001) and IMR-90 cells (p < 0.01). Upon simultaneous exposure to caffeine (10 mM), both glucocorticoid-induced mRNA and protein expression were significantly reduced in IMR-90 cells (p < 0.0001). Of note, 24 h exposure to caffeine alone significantly suppressed basal expression of CTGF mRNA and protein in IMR-90 cells. Caffeine-induced reduction of CTGF mRNA expression seemed to be independent of cAMP levels, adenylyl cyclase activation, or PDE-4 inhibition. While dexamethasone or caffeine treatment did not affect TGF-β1 mRNA in H441 cells, increased expression of TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 mRNA was detected upon exposure to dexamethasone or dexamethasone and caffeine, respectively. Moreover, caffeine increased TNF-α mRNA in H441 cells (6.5 ± 2.2-fold, p < 0.05) which has been described as potent inhibitor of CTGF expression. Conclusions: In addition to well-known anti-inflammatory features, glucocorticoids may have adverse effects on long-term remodeling by TGF-β1-independent induction of CTGF in lung cells. Simultaneous treatment with caffeine may attenuate glucocorticoid-induced expression of CTGF, thereby promoting restoration of lung homeostasis. KW - airway remodeling KW - fibrosis KW - bronchopulmonary dysplasia KW - caffeine KW - CCN2 KW - CTGF KW - glucocorticoids KW - H441 KW - IMR-90 Y1 - 2017 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-157672 VL - 18 IS - 51 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fehrholz, Markus A1 - Glaser, Kirsten A1 - Seidenspinner, Silvia A1 - Ottensmeier, Barbara A1 - Curstedt, Tore A1 - Speer, Christian P. A1 - Kunzmann, Steffen T1 - Impact of the New Generation Reconstituted Surfactant CHF5633 on Human CD4\(^+\) Lymphocytes JF - PLoS One N2 - Background Natural surfactant preparations, commonly isolated from porcine or bovine lungs, are used to treat respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants. Besides biophysical effectiveness, several studies have documented additional immunomodulatory properties. Within the near future, synthetic surfactant preparations may be a promising alternative. CHF5633 is a new generation reconstituted synthetic surfactant preparation with defined composition, containing dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine, palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylglycerol and synthetic analogs of surfactant protein (SP-) B and SP-C. While its biophysical effectiveness has been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo, possible immunomodulatory abilities are currently unknown. Aim The aim of the current study was to define a potential impact of CHF5633 and its single components on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine responses in human CD4\(^+\) lymphocytes. Methods Purified human CD4\(^+\) T cells were activated using anti CD3/CD28 antibodies and exposed to CHF5633, its components, or to the well-known animal-derived surfactant Poractant alfa (Curosurf®). Proliferative response and cell viability were assessed using flow cytometry and a methylthiazolyldiphenyltetrazolium bromide colorimetric assay. The mRNA expression of IFNγ, IL-2, IL-17A, IL-22, IL-4, and IL-10 was measured by quantitative PCR, while intracellular protein expression was assessed by means of flow cytometry. Results Neither CHF5633 nor any of its phospholipid components with or without SP-B or SP-C analogs had any influence on proliferative ability and viability of CD4\(^+\) lymphocytes under the given conditions. IFNγ, IL-2, IL-17A, IL-22, IL-4, and IL-10 mRNA as well as IFNγ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 protein levels were unaffected in both non-activated and activated CD4+ lymphocytes after exposure to CHF5633 or its constituents compared to non-exposed controls. However, in comparison to Curosurf®, expression levels of anti-inflammatory IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA were significantly increased in CHF5633 exposed CD4\(^+\) lymphocytes. Conclusion For the first time, the immunomodulatory capacity of CHF5633 on CD4\(^+\) lymphocytes was evaluated. CHF5633 did not show any cytotoxicity on CD4\(^+\) cells. Moreover, our in vitro data indicate that CHF5633 does not exert unintended pro-inflammatory effects on non-activated and activated CD4+ T cells. As far as anti-inflammatory cytokines are concerned, it might lack an overall reductive ability in comparison to animal-derived surfactants, potentially leaving pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine response in balance. KW - lymphocytes KW - surfactants KW - flow cytometry KW - monocytes KW - RNA isolation KW - T cells KW - cytokines KW - inflammation Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-146419 VL - 11 IS - 4 ER -