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Extracellular CIRP as an endogenous TREM-1 ligand to fuel inflammation in sepsis
Naomi-Liza Denning, Monowar Aziz, Atsushi Murao, Steven D. Gurien, Mahendar Ochani, Jose M. Prince, Ping Wang
Naomi-Liza Denning, Monowar Aziz, Atsushi Murao, Steven D. Gurien, Mahendar Ochani, Jose M. Prince, Ping Wang
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Research Article Immunology Inflammation

Extracellular CIRP as an endogenous TREM-1 ligand to fuel inflammation in sepsis

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Abstract

Extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP) is a recently discovered damage-associated molecular pattern. Understanding the precise mechanism by which it exacerbates inflammation is essential. Here we identified that eCIRP is a new biologically active endogenous ligand of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1), fueling inflammation in sepsis. Surface plasmon resonance revealed a strong binding affinity between eCIRP and TREM-1, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay confirmed eCIRP’s interaction with TREM-1 in macrophages. Targeting TREM-1 by its siRNA or a decoy peptide, LP17, or by using TREM-1–/– mice dramatically reduced eCIRP-induced inflammation. We developed a potentially novel 7-aa peptide derived from human eCIRP, M3, which blocked the interaction of TREM-1 and eCIRP. M3 suppressed inflammation induced by eCIRP or agonist TREM-1 antibody cross-linking in murine macrophages or human peripheral blood monocytes. M3 also inhibited eCIRP-induced systemic inflammation and tissue injury. Treatment with M3 further protected mice from sepsis, improved acute lung injury, and increased survival. Thus, we have discovered a potentially novel TREM-1 ligand and developed a new peptide, M3, to block eCIRP–TREM-1 interaction and improve outcomes in sepsis.

Authors

Naomi-Liza Denning, Monowar Aziz, Atsushi Murao, Steven D. Gurien, Mahendar Ochani, Jose M. Prince, Ping Wang

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Figure 2

LP17 inhibits eCIRP-induced inflammation in vivo.

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LP17 inhibits eCIRP-induced inflammation in vivo.
Adult C57BL/6 mice wer...
Adult C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to sham, vehicle (PBS), or treatment group. rmCIRP at a dose of 5 mg/kg BW or equivalent volume of normal saline was administered i.v. via retro-orbital injection. LP17 at a dose of 5 mg/kg BW or vehicle was given i.p. at the time of rmCIRP injection. At 5 hours after rmCIRP injection, mice were euthanized, and blood and tissue were collected for analysis. (A) AST, (B) ALT, and (C) LDH were determined using specific colorimetric enzymatic assays. Serum (D) IL-6 and (E) IL-1β were measured by ELISA. Lung mRNA levels of (F) TNF-α, (G) IL-1β, and (H) IL-6 were measured by real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Equal amounts of total lung protein (250–350 μg) were loaded into respective ELISA wells for assessment of lung protein levels of (I) TNF-α, (J) IL-1β, and (K) IL-6. (L) Representative images of H&E-stained lung tissue at original magnification ×200. (M) Lung injury score calculated at original magnification ×400. n = 5 high-powered fields/group. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. n = 5–7 mice/group. The groups were compared by 1-way ANOVA and Tukey’s method (*P < 0.05 vs. sham, and #P < 0.05 vs. vehicle mice). ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase.

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