Studies comparing endogenous and recombinant serum amyloid A (SAA) have generated conflicting data on the proinflammatory function of these proteins. In exploring this discrepancy, we found that in contrast to commercially sourced recombinant human SAA1 (hSAA1) proteins produced in , hSAA1 produced from eukaryotic cells did not promote proinflammatory cytokine production from human or mouse cells, induce Th17 differentiation, or stimulate TLR2. Proteomic analysis of-derived hSAA1 revealed the presence of numerous bacterial proteins, with several being reported or probable lipoproteins. Treatment of hSAA1 with lipoprotein lipase or addition of a lipopeptide to eukaryotic cell-derived hSAA1 inhibited or induced the production of TNF-α from macrophages, respectively. Our results suggest that a function of SAA is in the binding of TLR2-stimulating bacterial proteins, including lipoproteins, and demand that future studies of SAA employ a recombinant protein derived from eukaryotic cells.

Muscle contraction may protect against the effects of chemotherapy to cause skeletal muscle atrophy, but the mechanisms underlying these benefits are unclear. To address this question, we utilized in vitro modeling of contraction and mechanotransduction in C2C12 myotubes treated with doxorubicin (DOX; 0.2 μM for 3 days). Myotubes expressed contractile proteins and organized these into functional myofilaments, as electrical field stimulation (STIM) induced intracellular calcium (Ca2+) transients and contractions, both of which were prevented by inhibition of membrane depolarization. DOX treatment reduced myotube myosin content, protein synthesis, and Akt (S308) and forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a; S253) phosphorylation and increased muscle RING finger 1 (MuRF1) expression. STIM (1 h/day) prevented DOX-induced reductions in myotube myosin content and Akt and FoxO3a phosphorylation, as well as increases in MuRF1 expression, but did not prevent DOX-induced reductions in protein synthesis. Inhibition of myosin-actin interaction during STIM prevented contraction and the antiatrophic effects of STIM without affecting Ca2+ cycling, suggesting that the beneficial effect of STIM derives from mechanotransductive pathways. Further supporting this conclusion, mechanical stretch of myotubes recapitulated the effects of STIM to prevent DOX suppression of FoxO3a phosphorylation and upregulation of MuRF1. DOX also increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which led to a decrease in mitochondrial content. Although STIM did not alter DOX-induced ROS production, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α and antioxidant enzyme expression were upregulated, and mitochondrial loss was prevented. Our results suggest that the activation of mechanotransductive pathways that downregulate proteolysis and preserve mitochondrial content protects against the atrophic effects of chemotherapeutics.

Vitamins A and E and select flavonoids in the family of catechins are well-defined small molecules that, if proven to possess immunomodulatory properties, hold promise as vaccine adjuvants and various therapies. In an effort to determine the in vivo immunomodulatory properties of these molecules, we found that although mucosal and systemic vaccinations with a recombinant HIV-1 BaL gp120 with either a catechin, epigallo catechin gallate (EGCG) or pro-vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) alone in a vegetable-oil-in-water emulsion (OWE) suppressed antigen-specific responses, the combination of EGCG and vitamin A or E in OWE (Nutritive Immune-enhancing Delivery System, NIDS) synergistically enhanced adaptive B-cell, and CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell responses, following induction of relatively low local and systemic innate tumour necrosis factor-a (TNFa), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-17, but relatively high levels of early systemic IL-15 responses. For induction of adaptive interferon-c and TNF-a responses by CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, the adjuvant effect of NIDS was dependent on both IL-15 and its receptor. In addition, the anti-oxidant activity of NIDS correlated positively with higher expression of the superoxide dismutase 1, an enzyme involved in reactive oxygen species elimination but negatively with secretion of IL-1b. This suggests that the mechanism of action of NIDS is dependent on anti-oxidant activity and IL-15, but independent of IL-1b and inflammasome formation. These data show that this approach in nutritive vaccine adjuvant design holds promise for the development of potentially safer effective vaccines.

Muscle may contribute to the systemic inflammatory environment during critical illness, but leukocyte interaction and cytokine influence on muscle and its response has not been fully explored in this context. Using an in vivo model of intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (IT LPS)‐induced acute lung injury, we show that skeletal muscle rapidly responds with expression of proinflammatory genes, which may be explained by migration of LPS into the circulation. Treatment of mature C2C12 myotubes with LPS at a level achieved in the circulation following IT LPS elicited a proinflammatory cytokine expression profile similar to that of in vivo murine muscle following IT LPS. Stimulation with toll‐like receptor (TLR) 2 and 3 agonists provoked comparable responses in C2C12 myotubes. Additionally, co‐cultures of C2C12 myotubes and bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDM) identified the capacity of macrophages to increase myotube proinflammatory gene expression, with tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNFα) gene and protein expression largely attributable to BMDM. To investigate the contribution of TNFα in the synergy of the co‐culture environment, C2C12 myotubes were treated with recombinant TNFα, co‐cultures were established using TNF‐deficient BMDM, and co‐cultures were also depleted of TNFα using antibodies. To determine whether the in vitro observations were relevant in vivo, mice received intramuscular administration of LPS ± TNFα or TNFα‐neutralizing antibodies and showed that TNFα is both sufficient and necessary to induce synergistic cytokine release from muscle. Taken together, these data demonstrate how skeletal muscle tissue may contribute proinflammatory cytokines following acute endotoxin injury and the potential of leukocytes to augment this response via TNFα secretion.

Thousands of long noncoding RNAs are encoded in mammalian genomes, yet most remain uncharacterized. In this study, we functionally characterized a mouse long noncoding RNA named U90926. Analysis of U90926 RNA levels revealed minimal expression across multiple tissues at steady state. However, the expression of this gene was highly induced in macrophages and dendritic cells by TLR activation, in a p38 MAPK- and MyD88-dependent manner. To study the function of U90926, we generated U90926-deficient (U9-KO) mice. Surprisingly, we found minimal effects of U90926 deficiency in cultured macrophages. Given the lack of macrophage-intrinsic effect, we investigated the subcellular localization of U90926 transcript and its protein-coding potential. We found that U90926 RNA localizes to the cytosol, associates with ribosomes, and contains an open reading frame that encodes a novel glycosylated protein (termed U9-ORF), which is secreted from the cell. An in vivo model of endotoxic shock revealed that, in comparison with wild type mice, U9-KO mice exhibited increased sickness responses and mortality. Mechanistically, serum levels of IL-6 were elevated in U9-KO mice, and IL-6 neutralization improved endotoxemia outcomes in U9-KO mice. Taken together, these results suggest that U90926 expression is protective during endotoxic shock, potentially mediated by the paracrine and/or endocrine actions of the novel U9-ORF protein secreted by activated myeloid cells.