Yifan Niu , Yu Liu , Xiang Ma , Lu Liu , Sihong Li , Rui Li , Tao Wang , Houhui Song , Dong Niu
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Endogenous retroelements play vital roles in sustaining immune homeostasis. Activation of endogenous retroelements can trigger cGAS/STING pathway and downstream pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Activated macrophages (M1), which can be induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines, are involved in the development of colitis. Here we aimed to determine whether a retrovirus reverse transcriptase inhibitor azidothymidine (AZT) could influence M1 macrophage polarization and rescue colitis by inhibiting the reverse transcription of murine endogenous retroelements. A dextran sodium sulfate salt (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model (male C57BL/6N) and a lipopolysaccharides-treated RAW264.7 cell line were used to evaluate the protective role of AZT in colitis alleviation. An upregulated expression of endogenous retroelements was first detected in both the colons of the mice with colitis and the lipopolysaccharides-stimulated M1 cells, and treatment with AZT significantly decreased the expression. Meanwhile, a downregulation of cGAS/STING/NF-κB pathway and pro-inflammatory cytokines that induce M1 macrophage polarization was also observed in AZT-treated colitis or M1 groups. Moreover, the symptoms of DSS-induced colitis could be significantly alleviated by AZT. In summary, the endogenous retroelement inhibitor AZT could rescue the DSS-induced colitis possibly via blocking M1 macrophage polarization through cGAS/STING/NF-κB pro-inflammatory pathway. Thus, a pharmacological blockade of endogenous retroelements would be a new strategy for clinical therapy of colitis.
期刊介绍:
Mucosal Immunology, the official publication of the Society of Mucosal Immunology (SMI), serves as a forum for both basic and clinical scientists to discuss immunity and inflammation involving mucosal tissues. It covers gastrointestinal, pulmonary, nasopharyngeal, oral, ocular, and genitourinary immunology through original research articles, scholarly reviews, commentaries, editorials, and letters. The journal gives equal consideration to basic, translational, and clinical studies and also serves as a primary communication channel for the SMI governing board and its members, featuring society news, meeting announcements, policy discussions, and job/training opportunities advertisements.