Schistosoma egg antigens suppress LPS-induced inflammation in human IMR-90 cells by modulation of JAK/STAT1 signaling

Kang Yun Lee, Yi Lin Lee, Ming Hsiu Chiang, Hung Yang Wang, Chong Yu Chen, Chang Hong Lin, Ying Chou Chen, Chia Kwung Fan, Po Ching Cheng*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The regulation of the balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory events during the treatment of pulmonary infection is very important. Soluble Schistosoma egg antigens (SEA) can effectively inhibit the expression of cytokines during hepatic acute inflammation. However, the mechanisms by which these proteins suppress the inflammatory responses in lung cells remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of SEA to inhibit pulmonary inflammation. Methods: The effects of SEA were investigated in LPS-treated lung IMR-90 cells. The involvement of the JAK/STAT-1 signaling pathway in these effects was evaluated by employing CBA assays, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting experiments. Results: Pretreatment of IMR-90 cells with appropriate concentrations of SEA protected cells against the cytotoxic effects of LPS-induced inflammation in a time-dependent manner. SEA pretreatment significantly attenuated the LPS-induced activation of the JAK/STAT1 signaling pathway, including the upregulation of JAK1/2 and STAT1, as well as the production of inflammatory cytokines. The level of phosphorylated STAT1 gradually declined in response to increasing concentrations of SEA. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that SEA-induced anti-inflammatory effects initiate with the downregulation of the IFN-γ-JAK-STAT1 signaling pathway, resulting in the attenuation of LPS-induced inflammation in IMR-90 cells. Conclusion: Our study is the first to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory activity of SEA in an in vitro model of pulmonary inflammation, involving the modulation of JAK/STAT1 signaling. We propose SEA as potential therapeutic or preventive agents for the selective suppression of STAT1 and the control of inflammatory response in lung IMR-90 cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)501-513
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection
Volume54
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 06 2021
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020

Keywords

  • Anti-inflammation
  • JAK-STAT1 pathway
  • Pneumonia
  • STAT1 inhibitor
  • Schistosoma egg antigens

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