Person: Luscinskas, Francis
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Luscinskas
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Francis
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Luscinskas, Francis
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Publication Ly-6Chi monocytes dominate hypercholesterolemia-associated monocytosis and give rise to macrophages in atheromata(American Society for Clinical Investigation, 2007) Swirski, Filip; Libby, Peter; Aikawa, Elena; Alcaide, Pilar; Luscinskas, Francis; Weissleder, Ralph; Pittet, MikaelMacrophage accumulation participates decisively in the development and exacerbation of atherosclerosis. Circulating monocytes, the precursors of macrophages, display heterogeneity in mice and humans, but their relative contribution to atherogenesis remains unknown. We report here that the Ly-6C(hi) monocyte subset increased dramatically in hypercholesterolemic apoE-deficient mice consuming a high-fat diet, with the number of Ly-6C(hi) cells doubling in the blood every month. Ly-6C(hi) monocytes adhered to activated endothelium, infiltrated lesions, and became lesional macrophages. Hypercholesterolemia-associated monocytosis (HAM) developed from increased survival, continued cell proliferation, and impaired Ly-6C(hi) to Ly-6C(lo) conversion and subsided upon statin-induced cholesterol reduction. Conversely, the number of Ly-6C(lo) cells remained unaffected. Thus, we believe that Ly-6C(hi) monocytes represent a newly recognized component of the inflammatory response in experimental atherosclerosis.Publication AKAP9 regulates activation-induced retention of T lymphocytes at sites of inflammation(Nature Publishing Group, 2015) Herter, Jan M.; Grabie, Nir; Cullere, Xavier; Azcutia, Veronica; Rosetti, Florencia; Bennett, Paul; Herter-Sprie, Grit S.; Elyaman, Wassim; Luscinskas, Francis; Lichtman, Andrew; Mayadas, TanyaThe mechanisms driving T cell homing to lymph nodes and migration to tissue are well described but little is known about factors that affect T cell egress from tissues. Here, we generate mice with a T cell-specific deletion of the scaffold protein A kinase anchoring protein 9 (AKAP9) and use models of inflammatory disease to demonstrate that AKAP9 is dispensable for T cell priming and migration into tissues and lymph nodes, but is required for T cell retention in tissues. AKAP9 deficiency results in increased T cell egress to draining lymph nodes, which is associated with impaired T cell re-activation in tissues and protection from organ damage. AKAP9-deficient T cells exhibit reduced microtubule-dependent recycling of TCRs back to the cell surface and this affects antigen-dependent activation, primarily by non-classical antigen-presenting cells. Thus, AKAP9-dependent TCR trafficking drives efficient T cell re-activation and extends their retention at sites of inflammation with implications for disease pathogenesis.Publication Integrin-Mediated Neutrophil Adhesion and Retinal Leukostasis in Diabetes(Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, 2000) Barouch, FC; Miyamoto, Kazuaki; Allport, Jennifer; Fujita, Kenji; Bursell, Sven-Erik; Aiello, Lloyd; Luscinskas, Francis; Adamis, AnthonyPurpose. A critical early event in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy is leukocyte adhesion to the diabetic retinal vasculature. The process is mediated, in part, by intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and results in blood–retinal barrier breakdown and capillary nonperfusion. This study evaluated the expression and function of the corresponding ICAM-1–binding leukocyte β2-integrins in experimental diabetes. Methods. Diabetes was induced in Long Evans rats with streptozotocin. The expression of the surface integrin subunits CD11a, CD11b, and CD18 on rat neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood was quantitated with flow cytometry. In vitro neutrophil adhesion was studied using quantitative endothelial cell–neutrophil adhesion assays. The adhesive role of the integrin subunits CD11a, CD11b, and CD18 was tested using specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. CD18 bioactivity was blocked in vivo with anti-CD18 F(ab′)2 fragments, and the effect on retinal leukocyte adhesion was quantitated with acridine orange leukocyte fluorography. Results. Neutrophil CD11a, CD11b, and CD18 surface integrin levels were 62% (n = 5, P = 0.006), 54% (n = 5, P = 0.045), and 38% (n = 5, P = 0.009) greater in diabetic versus nondiabetic animals, respectively. Seventy-five percent more neutrophils from diabetic versus nondiabetic animals adhered to rat endothelial cell monolayers (n = 6, P = 0.02). Pretreatment of leukocytes with either anti-CD11b or anti-CD18 antibodies lowered the proportion of adherent diabetic neutrophils by 41% (n = 6, P = 0.01 for each treatment), whereas anti-CD11a antibodies had no significant effect (n = 6, P = 0.5). In vivo, systemic administration of anti-CD18 F(ab′)2 fragments decreased diabetic retinal leukostasis by 62% (n = 5, P = 0.001). Conclusions. Neutrophils from diabetic animals exhibit higher levels of surface integrin expression and integrin-mediated adhesion. In vivo, CD18 blockade significantly decreases leukostasis in the diabetic retinal microvasculature. Integrin adhesion molecules may serve as therapeutic targets for the treatment and/or prevention of early diabetic retinopathy.Publication Endomucin prevents leukocyte–endothelial cell adhesion and has a critical role under resting and inflammatory conditions(Nature Publishing Group, 2016) Zahr, Alisar; Alcaide, Pilar; Yang, Jinling; Jones, Alexander; Gregory, Meredith; dela Paz, Nathaniel G.; Patel-Hett, Sunita; Nevers, Tania; Koirala, Adarsha; Luscinskas, Francis; Saint-Geniez, Magali; Ksander, Bruce; D'Amore, Patricia; Argueso, PabloEndomucin is a membrane-bound glycoprotein expressed luminally by endothelial cells that line postcapillary venules, a primary site of leukocyte recruitment during inflammation. Here we show that endomucin abrogation on quiescent endothelial cells enables neutrophils to adhere firmly, via LFA-1-mediated binding to ICAM-1 constitutively expressed by endothelial cells. Moreover, TNF-α stimulation downregulates cell surface expression of endomucin concurrent with increased expression of adhesion molecules. Adenovirus-mediated expression of endomucin under inflammatory conditions prevents neutrophil adhesion in vitro and reduces the infiltration of CD45+ and NIMP-R14+ cells in vivo. These results indicate that endomucin prevents leukocyte contact with adhesion molecules in non-inflamed tissues and that downregulation of endomucin is critical to facilitate adhesion of leukocytes into inflamed tissues.Publication Migration of Myeloid Cells during Inflammation Is Differentially Regulated by the Cell Surface Receptors Slamf1 and Slamf8(Public Library of Science, 2015) Wang, Guoxing; van Driel, Boaz J.; Liao, Gongxian; O’Keeffe, Michael S.; Halibozek, Peter J.; Flipse, Jacky; Yigit, Burcu; Azcutia, Veronica; Luscinskas, Francis; Wang, Ninghai; Terhorst, CoxPrevious studies have demonstrated that the cell surface receptor Slamf1 (CD150) is requisite for optimal NADPH-oxidase (Nox2) dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by phagocytes in response to Gram- bacteria. By contrast, Slamf8 (CD353) is a negative regulator of ROS in response to Gram+ and Gram- bacteria. Employing in vivo migration after skin sensitization, induction of peritonitis, and repopulation of the small intestine demonstrates that in vivo migration of Slamf1-/- dendritic cells and macrophages is reduced, as compared to wt mice. By contrast, in vivo migration of Slamf8-/- dendritic cells, macrophages and neutrophils is accelerated. These opposing effects of Slamf1 and Slamf8 are cell-intrinsic as judged by in vitro migration in transwell chambers in response to CCL19, CCL21 or CSF-1. Importantly, inhibiting ROS production of Slamf8-/- macrophages by diphenyleneiodonium chloride blocks this in vitro migration. We conclude that Slamf1 and Slamf8 govern ROS–dependent innate immune responses of myeloid cells, thus modulating migration of these cells during inflammation in an opposing manner.Publication Statins Suppress Apolipoprotein CIII-Induced Vascular Endothelial Cell Activation and Monocyte Adhesion(Oxford University Press, 2012) Zheng, Carson; Azcutia, Veronica; Aikawa, Elena; Figueiredo, Jose-Luiz; Croce, Kevin; Sonoki, Hiroyuki; Sacks, Frank; Luscinskas, Francis; Aikawa, MasanoriAims: Activation of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) contributes importantly to inflammation and atherogenesis. We previously reported that apolipoprotein CIII (apoCIII), found abundantly on circulating triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, enhances adhesion of human monocytes to ECs in vitro. Statins may exert lipid-independent anti-inflammatory effects. The present study examined whether statins suppress apoCIII-induced EC activation in vitro and in vivo. Methods and results: Physiologically relevant concentrations of purified human apoCIII enhanced attachment of the monocyte-like cell line THP-1 to human saphenous vein ECs (HSVECs) or human coronary artery ECs (HCAECs) under both static and laminar shear stress conditions. This process mainly depends on vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), as a blocking VCAM-1 antibody abolished apoCIII-induced monocyte adhesion. ApoCIII significantly increased VCAM-1 expression in HSVECs and HCAECs. Pre-treatment with statins suppressed apoCIII-induced VCAM-1 expression and monocyte adhesion, with two lipophilic statins (pitavastatin and atorvastatin) exhibiting inhibitory effects at lower concentration than those of hydrophilic pravastatin. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) mediated apoCIII-induced VCAM-1 expression, as demonstrated via loss-of-function experiments, and pitavastatin treatment suppressed NF-κB activation. Furthermore, in the aorta of hypercholesterolaemic \(Ldlr^{−/−}\) mice, pitavastatin administration in vivo suppressed VCAM-1 mRNA and protein, induced by apoCIII bolus injection. Similarly, in a subcutaneous dorsal air pouch mouse model of leucocyte recruitment, apoCIII injection induced F4/80+ monocyte and macrophage accumulation, whereas pitavastatin administration reduced this effect. Conclusions: These findings further establish the direct role of apoCIII in atherogenesis and suggest that anti-inflammatory effects of statins could improve vascular disease in the population with elevated plasma apoCIII.Publication Inflammation Determines the Pro-Adhesive Properties of High Extracellular D-Glucose in Human Endothelial Cells In Vitro and Rat Microvessels In Vivo(Public Library of Science, 2010) Azcutia, Verónica; Abu-Taha, May; Romacho, Tania; Vázquez-Bella, Marta; Matesanz, Nuria; Luscinskas, Francis; Rodríguez-Mañas, Leocadio; Sanz, María Jesús; Sánchez-Ferrer, Carlos F.; Peiró, ConcepciónBackground: Hyperglycemia is acknowledged as an independent risk factor for developing diabetes-associated atherosclerosis. At present, most therapeutic approaches are targeted at a tight glycemic control in diabetic patients, although this fails to prevent macrovascular complications of the disease. Indeed, it remains highly controversial whether or not the mere elevation of extracellular D-glucose can directly promote vascular inflammation, which favors early proatherosclerotic events. Methods and Findings: In the present work, increasing extracellular D-glucose from 5.5 to 22 mmol/L was neither sufficient to induce intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression, analyzed by flow cytometry, nor to promote leukocyte adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro, measured by flow chamber assays. Interestingly, the elevation of D-glucose levels potentiated ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression and leukocyte adhesion induced by a pro-inflammatory stimulus, such as interleukin (IL)-1b (5 ng/mL). In HUVEC, high D-glucose augmented the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) and nuclear transcription factor-kB (NF-kB) elicited by IL-1b, measured by Western blot and electromobility shift assay (EMSA), respectively, but had no effect by itself. Both ERK 1/2 and NF-kB were necessary for VCAM-1 expression, but not for ICAM-1 expression. In vivo, leukocyte trafficking was evaluated in the rat mesenteric microcirculation by intravital microscopy. In accordance with the in vitro data, the acute intraperitoneal injection of D-glucose increased leukocyte rolling flux, adhesion and migration, but only when IL-1b was coadministered. Conclusions: These results indicate that the elevation of extracellular D-glucose levels is not sufficient to promote vascular inflammation, and they highlight the pivotal role of a pro-inflammatory environment in diabetes, as a critical factor conditioning the early pro-atherosclerotic actions of hyperglycemia.