Excessive accumulation of neutrophils and their uncontrolled death by necrosis at the site of inflammation exacerbates inflammatory responses and leads to self-amplifying tissue injury and loss of organ function, as exemplified in a variety of respiratory diseases. In homeostasis, neutrophils are inactivated by apoptosis, and non phlogistically removed by neighboring macrophages in a process known as efferocytosis, which promotes the resolution of inflammation. The present study assessed the potential anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution benefits of tylvalosin, a recently developed broad-spectrum veterinary macrolide derived from tylosin. Recent findings indicate that tylvalosin may modulate inflammation by suppressing NF-κB activation. Neutrophils and monocyte-derived macrophages were isolated from fresh blood samples obtained from 12- to 22-week-old pigs. Leukocytes exposed to vehicle or to tylvalosin (0.1, 1.0, or 10 µg/mL; 0.096–9.6 µM) were assessed at various time points for apoptosis, necrosis, efferocytosis, and changes in the production of cytokines and lipid mediators. The findings indicate that tylvalosin increases porcine neutrophil and macrophage apoptosis in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, without altering levels of necrosis or reactive oxygen species production. Importantly, tylvalosin increased the release of pro-resolving Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and Resolvin D1 (RvD1) while inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in Ca2+ ionophore-stimulated porcine neutrophils. Tylvalosin increased neutrophil phospholipase C activity, an enzyme involved in releasing arachidonic acid from membrane stores. Tylvalosin also inhibited pro-inflammatory chemokine (C–X–C motif) ligand 8 (CXCL-8, also known as Interleukin-8) and interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) protein secretion in bacterial lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. Together, these data illustrate that tylvalosin has potent immunomodulatory effects in porcine leukocytes in addition to its antimicrobial properties.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a positive-stranded RNA virus that grows in macrophages and causes acute pneumonia in pigs. PRRSV causes devastating losses to the porcine industry. However, due to its high antigenic variability and poorly understood immunopathogenesis, there is currently no effective vaccine or treatment to control PRRSV infection. The common occurrence of PRRSV infection with bacterial infections as well as its inflammatory-driven pathobiology raises the question of the value of antibiotics with immunomodulating properties for the treatment of the disease it causes. The macrolide antibiotic Tulathromycin (TUL) has been found to exhibit potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties in cattle and pigs. The aim of this study was to characterize the anti-viral and immunomodulating properties of TUL in PRRSV-infected porcine macrophages. Our findings indicate that blood monocyte-derived macrophages are readily infected by PRRSV and can be used as an effective cellular model to study PRRSV pathogenesis. TUL did not change intracellular or extracellular viral titers, not did it alter viral receptors (CD163 and CD169) expression on porcine macrophages. In contrast, TUL exhibited potent immunomodulating properties, which therefore occurred in the absence of any direct antiviral effects against PRRSV. TUL had an additive effect with PRRSV on the induction of macrophage apoptosis, and inhibited virus-induced necrosis. TUL significantly attenuated PRRSV-induced macrophage pro-inflammatory signaling (CXCL-8 and mitochondrial ROS production) and prevented PRRSV inhibition of non-opsonized and opsonized phagocytic function. Together, these data demonstrate that TUL inhibits PRRSV-induced inflammatory responses in porcine macrophages and protects against the phagocytic impairment caused by the virus. Research in live pigs is warranted to assess the potential clinical benefits of this antibiotic in the context of virally induced inflammation and tissue injury.

Transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs), originating from the Xanthomonas genus of bacteria, bind to specific DNA sequences based on amino acid sequence in the repeat-variable diresidue (RVD) positions of the protein. By altering these RVDs, it has been shown that a TALE protein can be engineered to bind virtually any DNA sequence of interest. The possibility of multiplexing TALEs for the purposes of identifying specific DNA sequences has yet to be explored. Here, we demonstrate a system in which a TALE protein bound to a nitrocellulose strip has been utilized to capture purified DNA, which is then detected using the binding of a second distinct TALE protein conjugated to a protein tag that is then detected by a dot blot. This system provides a signal only when both TALEs bind to their respective sequences, further demonstrating the specificity of the TALE binding.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a positive‐strand RNA virus that grows in primary alveolar macrophages and causes acute pneumonia in pigs. PRRSV is a major concern in the swine industry with a total cost of productivity losses estimated at $600 million annually in the U.S. alone. However, due to its high antigenic variability, and poorly understood immunopathogenesis, there is currently no treatment to control PRRSV infection. The common occurrence of PRRSV infection with bacterial infections, including Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, begs the question of the value of antibiotics for the treatment of the disease it causes. Tulathromycin, a macrolide used for the treatment and prevention of respiratory disease in pigs and cattle, has been shown to exhibit potent immuno‐modulating properties [1]. We hypothesize that tulathromycin attenuates the detrimental effects of PRRSV in porcine macrophages. This may help characterize novel mechanism through which an anti‐microbial agent may deliver clinical benefits in the context of a viral infection.Aims1) Determine if Tulathromycin has direct anti‐viral effects in PRRSV‐infected porcine macrophages. 2) Identify new immuno‐modulating effects of Tulathromycin in PRRSV‐infected macrophages.MethodsPorcine monocytes were isolated from peripheral blood of healthy piglets. Seven days‐old monocyte‐derived macrophages were treated with Tulathromycin (1 mg/ml) or untreated (control) and incubated for 1h at 37°C. Macrophages were then cultured in media alone, or with PRRSV (MOI of 1) for 2h to 24h. (1) Extracellular and intracellular Viral titers were measured at 2h, 24h, and 48h post‐infection. (2) Macrophage activation was monitored by morphological changes and confirmed with IL‐8 ELISA and ROS production assays at 2h, 6h, 12h or 24h. (3) Phagocytosis properties were assessed by measuring zymosan particles (1 μg/mL) or 3μM opsonized latex beads (ratio beads: cells, 10:1) engulfment assay (4) Cell death ELISA, Annexin V immunostaining and lactate dehydrogenase assay were performed to evaluate the effects of Tulathromycin on PRRSV‐induced necrosis and apoptosis.Results(1) Tulathromycin did not change PRRSV particle forming unit (pfu) in macrophages at any time of infection (2.1×104 PFU/mL with tulathromycin versus 1.9×104 PFU/mL for control) (2). Exposure to PRRSV increased macrophage‐induced production of IL‐8 and ROS by more than four times compared to control. Pre‐treatment with tulathromycin significantly attenuated PRRSV‐induced macrophage activation (i.e. 1.85 times compared to untreated macrophages). (3) Macrophage phagocytosis of both zymosan and latex beads was impaired by PRRSV. Tulathromycin was able to restore phagocytic functions in PRRSV‐infected macrophages to control values. (4) Finally, Tulathromycin reduced viral induced necrosis but synergized with the virus to induce apoptosis.ConclusionOur results demonstrate that Tulathromycin attenuates macrophage‐driven inflammatory response induced by PRRSV, restores PRRSV‐induced phagocytic impairment, and inhibits cell necrosis. These effects occur in the absence of a direct anti‐viral activity. Together, these data demonstrate the potential clinical benefits of Tulathromycin in the context of PRRSV‐induced pneumonia through the modulation of a viral‐induced macrophage‐driven inflammation.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

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