Browsing by Author "Gebicke-Haerter, Peter J."

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    Interferon-gamma ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by inducing homeostatic adaptation of microglia
    (2023) Tichauer, Juan E.; Arellano, Gabriel; Acuna, Eric; Gonzalez, Luis F.; Kannaiyan, Nirmal R.; Murgas, Paola; Panadero-Medianero, Concepcion; Ibanez-Vega, Jorge; Burgos, Paula I.; Loda, Eileah; Miller, Stephen D.; Rossner, Moritz J.; Gebicke-Haerter, Peter J.; Naves, Rodrigo
    Compelling evidence has shown that interferon (IFN)-gamma has dual effects in multiple sclerosis and in its animal model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), with results supporting both a pathogenic and beneficial function. However, the mechanisms whereby IFN-gamma may promote neuroprotection in EAE and its effects on central nervous system (CNS)-resident cells have remained an enigma for more than 30 years. In this study, the impact of IFN-gamma at the peak of EAE, its effects on CNS infiltrating myeloid cells (MC) and microglia (MG), and the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms were investigated. IFN-gamma administration resulted in disease amelioration and attenuation of neuroinflammation associated with significantly lower frequencies of CNS CD11b(+) myeloid cells and less infiltration of inflammatory cells and demyelination. A significant reduction in activated MG and enhanced resting MG was determined by flow cytometry and immunohistrochemistry. Primary MC/MG cultures obtained from the spinal cord of IFN-gamma-treated EAE mice that were ex vivo re-stimulated with a low dose (1 ng/ml) of IFN-gamma and neuroantigen, promoted a significantly higher induction of CD4(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells associated with increased transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta secretion. Additionally, IFN-gamma-treated primary MC/MG cultures produced significantly lower nitrite in response to LPS challenge than control MC/MG. IFN-gamma-treated EAE mice had a significantly higher frequency of CX3CR1(high) MC/MG and expressed lower levels of program death ligand 1 (PD-L1) than PBS-treated mice. Most CX3CR1(high)PD-L1(low)CD11b(+)Ly6G(-) cells expressed MG markers (Tmem119, Sall2, and P2ry12), indicating that they represented an enriched MG subset (CX3CR1(high)PD-L1(low) MG). Amelioration of clinical symptoms and induction of CX3CR1(high)PD-L1(low) MG by IFN-gamma were dependent on STAT-1. RNA-seq analyses revealed that in vivo treatment with IFN-gamma promoted the induction of homeostatic CX3CR1(high)PD-L1(low) MG, upregulating the expression of genes associated with tolerogenic and anti-inflammatory roles and down-regulating pro-inflammatory genes. These analyses highlight the master role that IFN-gamma plays in regulating microglial activity and provide new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the therapeutic activity of IFN-gamma in EAE.
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    Role of TLR9 methylation on its active transcription in apical inflammation
    (WILEY, 2022) Fernandez, Alejandra; Astorga, Jessica; Jose Bordagaray, Maria; Jesus Lira, Maria; Gebicke-Haerter, Peter J.; Hernandez, Marcela
    Aim To explore the methylation pattern, its role in transcriptional regulation and potential modifiers of methylation of the TLR9 gene in chronic periapical inflammation. Methodology In this cross-sectional study, apical lesions of endodontic origin (ALEO, n = 61) and healthy periodontal ligaments (HPL, n = 15) were included. Products from bisulfited and PCR-amplified DNA were analysed for their methylation profiles in the promoter region and at each CpG island. Additionally, TLR9 mRNA levels were quantified by qPCR and bivariate and multiple modelling were performed to better understand the influence of methylation on gene transcription. Results TLR9 mRNA levels were upregulated in ALEO compared to HPL (p < .001). TLR9 promoter CpG sites and CpG +2086 in the intragenic island 1 were demethylated in ALEO compared to HPL (p < .05). Multivariate analysis, adjusted by smoking and gender, revealed that demethylation of TLR9 promoter sites enhanced transcriptional activity, specifically demethylated CpGs at positions -736 and -683, (p = .02), which are close to CRE binding. Although ALEO reduced the global methylation of the gene promoter and intragenic-island 2 (p < .05) by -42.5 and -9.5 percentage points, respectively, age reduced the global methylation of intragenic-island 3 within the exon 2. Conclusions Demethylations of TLR9 promoter CpG sites, along with the intragenic DNA methylation status, were involved in higher transcription in ALEO. Hence, chronic periapical inflammation and ageing modify the methylation status both in the gene promoter and in intragenic CpG islands.