Background
The transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily integrates 30 closely related non-selective cationic channels, distributed into seven subfamilies and two groups based on their sequence similarity and cellular functions [
1,
2]. Subfamilies of TRP channels are named TRPC (Canonical), TRPV (Vanilloid), TRPM (Melastatin), TRPA (Ankyrin), TRPML (Mucolipin), TRPP (Polycystin), and TRPN (NOMPC). TRP channels are found in both excitable and non-excitable vertebrate cells and some non-vertebrate cells, contributing to essential cellular functions [
1,
3‐
6]. TRP channels are pivotal in various cellular processes, including cell division, migration, differentiation, stress responses, and apoptosis [
7‐
9].
TRPA1, the only member of the mammalian TRPA family, is characterized by 14 ankyrin repeats in its N-terminus domain [
10]. TRPA1 is required for various immune cells such as T lymphocytes and monocyte/macrophages in regulating their activation, migration, and secretion of different immune molecules [
11‐
15]. In a recent study, it has been reported an important role of TRPA1 in regulating T cell activation and associated responses [
16]. TRPA1 is essential in multiple inflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions in different model systems, including tissue injury, inflammatory models, and pain modalities. Recently, it has been reported that in inflammatory models such as acute kidney injury, atopic dermatitis model, and experimental colitis model, the TRPA1 expression levels were significantly elevated at the site of injury or inflammation [
17‐
19]. Further, inflammatory reactions such as pro-inflammatory cytokine release and mast cell infiltration were impaired considerably upon genetic or pharmacological ablation of TRPA1 [
20]. TRPA1 modulates pain induction and aggravates injury-induced inflammation. The protective role of TRPA1 is evident in various inflammatory immune responses, including corneal wound healing and mechanical or cold allodynia in chronic post-ischemia pain [
21‐
23]. Similarly, TRPA1 is associated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammatory responses, including lung inflammation, neurogenic inflammation, and Osteoarthritic Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes [
24‐
26]. Activation of TRPA1 alleviates the LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in peritoneal macrophages [
27]. Like other TRP superfamily members, TRPA1 is associated with various cellular proteins essential for cell survival, including Hsp90, Hsp27, and Hsp70 [
28‐
31].
Hsp90, a cytoplasmic molecular chaperone, is associated with the stabilization and maturation of cellular client proteins and helps in cell fate decisions, including cell cycle, signal transduction, growth regulation, and cell death [
32,
33]. Hsp90 is essential for various pathophysiological conditions like cancer, viral infections, and autoimmune disorders [
34‐
39]. Additionally, Hsp90 has been reported to effectively modulate different immune responses by regulating various client proteins involved in innate and adaptive immune responses [
40]. Hsp90 inhibition by various pharmacological inhibitors has proven effective in (alleviating) a wide range of inflammatory responses, including macrophage-mediated pro-inflammatory responses, interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase, Raf-1, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, and Src family kinase p56lck activation [
41‐
46]. 17-AAG, a derivative of geldanamycin, is one of the selective inhibitors of Hsp90 and has been reported to actively block various innate immune responses in vitro and in vivo models. 17-AAG administration has been shown to suppress TLR4-mediated pro-inflammatory cytokine production via blockade of the signaling cascade during LPS-induced autoimmune uveitis in rats [
47]. Furthermore, 17-AAG inhibits TLR4 stimulation in vitro and alleviates disease incidence and severity in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-peptide-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis [
48]. These reports suggest the immense therapeutic potential of Hsp90 inhibitors in autoimmune and pro-inflammatory diseases. Although Hsp90 and TRPA1 have been well studied for their immune modulatory effect, the possible association of these proteins and the functional regulation of their effects has not been addressed yet. Accordingly, here we have investigated the association of Hsp90 inhibition-mediated anti-inflammatory effects and the possible contextual involvement of TRPA1-mediated immune regulation, if any. In this study, we have explored the role of TRPA1 in regulating pro-inflammatory responses in Hsp90-inhibited macrophages when subjected to LPS or PMA stimulation. Additionally, we have also studied the regulation of MAPK signalings, apoptosis, intracellular calcium status, and associated immune responses via 17-AAG and TRPA1 agonist Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) in macrophages in LPS or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulation.
Discussion
The role of TRPA1, a non-selective cation channel, and Hsp90, a chaperone molecule in various immune responses has been well studied over recent years. TRPA1 plays an essential role in many immune cells, including T cells, macrophages, and monocytes [
11‐
15]. The potential of TRPA1 in regulating various inflammatory pathways and its association with various intracellular proteins has provided insights toward TRPA1 targeted therapeutic development in various autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases [
12,
19,
20,
25,
26,
71,
72]. Similarly, Hsp90 has been well attributed as a critical component in regulating various immune responses. Inhibition of HSp90 via various biological and synthetic compounds is effective in downregulating various inflammatory responses, including monocyte/macrophage-associated pro-inflammatory responses [
34‐
39]. Even though these two molecules are effective modulators of inflammatory responses, their possible associations or the functional regulation between them in inflammatory responses are not yet been assessed. Our study highlights the role of TRPA1 channels in regulating the anti-inflammatory effect of Hsp90 inhibition. We also emphasized a novel approach to downregulate macrophage-mediated pro-inflammatory responses. We have chosen mouse RAW 264.7, and human THP-1 macrophages stimulated with LPS or PMA as model systems for studying the pro-inflammatory responses. Hsp90 inhibition mediated downregulation of macrophage activation was obtained through 17-AAG.
This study suggests an important role of a TRP channel in regulating the Hsp90 inhibitor’s effect on inflammatory responses. Additionally, we have demonstrated the association of TRPA1 with Hsp90 in inflammatory responses in vitro. Our results suggest that TRPA1 has an anti-inflammatory role in 17-AAG-mediated development in macrophages during inflammation, supporting various other studies. TRPA1 is associated with and upregulated in various inflammatory conditions [
14,
15,
73,
74,
17,
23,
51‐
55,
69]. Here, we have demonstrated that TRPA1 is upregulated during LPS/PMA stimulation and further augmented with 17-AAG administration in macrophages. Additionally, the frequency of TRPA1 positive cells and expression was significantly increased upon LPS stimulation, while it was diminished upon PMA stimulation. This might be a reflection of the different activation mechanisms these molecules induce. Although these expression patterns are previously reported, the actual mechanisms behind these observations are yet to be reported. Furthermore, we highlight that the effect of Hsp90 inhibition in TRPA1 positive cell frequency is augmented in a time-dependent and reversible manner. This elevation of TRPA1 in macrophages indicates a possible association of TRPA1 in 17-AAG-induced Hsp90 inhibition-mediated anti-inflammatory developments in LPS or PMA-stimulated macrophages.
Here in this report, we have examined the effect of TRPA1 in 17-AAG-mediated downregulation of various inflammatory responses in macrophages. This study addresses the essential role of a TRP channel in regulating the Hsp90 inhibitor’s effect on inflammatory responses. Additionally, we have demonstrated the association of TRPA1 with Hsp90 in inflammatory responses in vitro. Our results suggest that TRPA1 has an anti-inflammatory role in 17-AAG-mediated development in macrophages during inflammation, supporting various other studies. 17-AAG is widely reported to regulate various autoimmune disorders and inhibit the TLR4-mediated inflammatory signaling cascade in macrophages [
47,
48]. Our findings support these studies as 17-AAG administration in macrophages stimulated with LPS/PMA has significantly downregulated the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory responses in macrophages such as cell surface expression of MHCII, CD80, CD86, production of NO and inflammatory cytokines (TNF and IL-6). Our work highlights the regulatory role of TRPA1 in this case. The results suggest that the pharmacological modulation of TRPA1 has a significant impact on the 17-AAG-mediated anti-inflammatory developments in LPS/PMA-stimulated macrophages. HC-030031-mediated inhibition of TRPA1 has significantly impaired the suppression of pro-inflammatory responses in LPS/PMA-stimulated macrophages. HC-030031 administration, along with 17-AAG and LPS, has abolished or diminished the 17-AAG-mediated downregulation of inflammatory responses as the MHCII, CD80, CD86 surface expression, inflammatory cytokines such as TNF and IL-6 production were comparable or higher than that of LPS/PMA stimulated macrophages, clearly depicting that TRPA1 is important for 17-AAG-mediated anti-inflammatory responses. Further, the TRPA1 activation via AITC has significantly augmented the 17-AAG-mediated downregulation of inflammation as MHCII, CD80, and CD86 surface expression, secretion of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF and IL-6, and NO production are the lowest. Hsp90 inhibition in macrophages follows a suppression of various macrophage-activation signaling processes. Macrophage activation via LPS or PMA induces apoptosis due to various secreted molecules such as NO and inflammatory cytokines. Our observations suggest that macrophages are prone to apoptosis at 12–24 h post-stimulation. Additionally, Hsp90 is well known to be involved in various cell fate decisions, including cell differentiation and apoptosis [
35,
36,
39]. Our results suggest that TRPA1 has a significant regulatory role in the 17-AAG-mediated downregulation of apoptosis. Functional activation of TRPA1 could significantly increase cell death compared to the 17-AAG and LPS administration in macrophages. Similarly, the 17-AAG-mediated downregulation apoptosis was reversed by HC-030031-mediated TRPA1 inhibition.
Our experiments on various signaling protein expressions upon Hsp90 inhibition with TRPA1 modulators suggested that TRPA1 has a critical role in Hsp90 inhibition-mediated down-regulation of macrophage activation signaling. The MAPK signaling proteins p-p38-MAPK, p-ERK 1/2, and p-SAPK/JNK expressions were significantly downregulated with 17-AAG treatment in LPS-stimulated macrophages as expected. Interestingly, TRPA1 inhibition via HC-030031 has reversed the downregulated expression of signaling proteins p-p38-MAPK, p-ERK 1/2, p-SAPK/JNK by 17-AAG, indicating that TRPA1 is required for the 17-AAG-mediated downregulation of MAPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, the expression of the signaling proteins p-p38-MAPK, p-ERK 1/2, and p-SAPK/JNK were successfully diminished with TRPA1 activation and Hsp90 inhibition via 17-AAG. Modulation of the signaling cascade can be the active mechanism behind the effect of TRPA1 in regulating Hsp90 inhibition-mediated anti-inflammatory effects. These results suggest that TRPA1 and its activation may augment the efficiency of 17-AAG in ant-inflammatory responses, leading to a novel combinatorial approach to regulating inflammatory responses.
Even though TRP channels are considered non-selective cation channels, the calcium influx through these channels has an important role in TRP channel functions. A high Ca2+ influx is preceded by LPS stimulation in macrophages. Our results demonstrated that 17-AAG (Hsp90 antagonist) or HC-030031 (TRPA1 antagonist) administration significantly diminishes LPS-mediated elevation of intracellular calcium in macrophages. The TRPA1 activation has augmented these Ca2+ levels, while the TRPA1 antagonist has further reduced it, indicating that the calcium influx occurring via LPS and 17-AAG administration is dependent on TRPA1. These changes in Ca2+ levels could reflect the activity of additional TRPA1 channels recruited by 17-AAG administration in LPS-stimulated macrophages. This Ca2+ status may not correspond to calcium levels for the regulatory role of TRPA1 in the 17-AAG (Hsp90 antagonist)-mediated effect. Still, it may trigger various downstream signaling cascades that lead to the observed anti-inflammatory developments by 17-AAG.
The present study may have implications for the synergistic role of TRPA1 activation and Hsp90 inhibition toward developing future regulatory measures against various inflammatory responses. The future perspective of the study may include the sub-cellular mechanism associated with domains of TRPA1 and 17-AAG interactions and the replication of these results in different inflammatory models.
Materials and methods
Cell culture
Mouse macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 (source – ATCC (ATCC® TIB-71™)) was cultured in complete Roswell Park Memorial Institute-1640 medium (RPMI-1640) (PAN Biotech, Aidenbach, Germany) with penicillin (100 U/mL), Streptomycin (0.1 mg/mL), and 2.0 mM L-Glutamine (Himedia Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, MH, India), 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS) (PAN Biotech, Aidenbach, Germany) at 37ºC in a sterile incubator with 5% CO
2 and appropriate humidity. Enzyme-free cell dissociation reagent (ZymeFree™; Himedia Laboratories Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai, MH, India) was used to maintain the cells [
56].
Undifferentiated human leukemia monocytic cell line, THP-1 (source – ATCC (ATCC® TIB-202™)) was maintained in complete RPMI-1640 (PAN Biotech, Aidenbach, Germany) supplemented with Penicillin (100 U/mL), Streptomycin (0.1 mg/mL), and 2.0 mM L-Glutamine (Himedia Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, MH, India), 10% heat-inactivated FBS (PAN Biotech, Aidenbach, Germany) at 37ºC in a sterile incubator with 5% CO
2 and appropriate humidity. THP-1 cells were further treated with 100 ng/ml PMA for 24 h to differentiate monocytes into macrophage-like cells [
75].
Antibodies, reagents, and pharmacological modulators
Rabbit polyclonal antibody against extracellular TRPA1 with specific blocking peptide [TRPA1, INSTGIINETSDHSE] was obtained from Alomone Laboratories (Jerusalem, Israel). Mouse antibodies against Hsp90, CD80, CD86, I-Ad/I-Ed (MHCII) were purchased from BD Biosciences (SJ, USA). The anti-mouse Alexa Fluor 647 (AF-647), anti-rabbit Alexa Fluor 488 (AF-488), and Fluo-4 AM were procured from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA, USA). Mouse IgG1 isotype control and rabbit IgG1 isotype control were bought from Abgenex India Pvt. Ltd. (Bhubaneswar, India). Saponin and Bovine serum albumin (BSA) fraction-V were procured from Merck Millipore (Billerica, MA, USA). 17-AAG and the pharmacological modulators of TRPA1 channel-antagonist HC-030031, agonist Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) were purchased from Alomone Laboratories (Jerusalem, Israel). HC-030031 and AITC are proven to be functional modulators of TRPA1, and their administration may not alter the TRPA1 expression levels.
Cell viability assay
To assess the cytotoxicity of pharmacological modulators, RAW 264.7 and PMA differentiated THP-1 macrophages were administrated with differential doses of TRPA1 modulators HC-030031 and AITC along with 17-AAG (0.5 µg/ml) and incubated for 24 h. Cells were immediately assessed by trypan blue exclusion assay. Additionally, samples were stained with Annexin V and 7-AAD and evaluated for cell viability. The percentage of viable cells was calculated in comparison to the control cells.
LPS/PMA stimulation in macrophages
RAW 264.7 cells were harvested and seeded in a six-well plate. After the cells had reached monolayer confluency of ~ 80%, they were washed with 1X PBS and subjected to LPS (500 ng/ml) or PMA (100 ng/ml) [
76] dissolved in fresh complete RPMI-1640. The supernatant and the cells were then harvested. They were stored or processed at various time points. 17-AAG was used to promote the Hsp90-inhibited condition in the cells. For assessing the effect of TRPA1 in the Hsp90-inhibited cells in presence of LPS-induced inflammatory responses, RAW 264.7 cells were subjected to 17-AAG (0.5 µM) and TRPA1 pharmacological modulators incubation followed by LPS or PMA administration for 6 to 24 h. DMSO was used as solvent control. The further proceedings were executed by following the protocols mentioned above.
Similarly, undifferentiated THP-1 cells were harvested and seeded in a six-well plate with the administration of 100 ng/ml PMA for 24 h. After the cells reached a monolayer confluency of ~ 80%, they were washed with 1X PBS and kept in PMA-free media for another 24 h before LPS treatment (500 ng/ml) [
77]. PMA-differentiated THP-1 macrophages were stimulated with LPS only for later experiments and no further PMA stimulation was carried out. Post-treatment, the supernatant, and the cells were harvested, then stored or processed at various time points. Further experiments were conducted as mentioned above.
Indirect immunofluorescence and Flow cytometry (FC)
RAW 264.7 and THP-1 macrophages were subjected to different stimuli and pharmacological modulators of TRPA1 and Hsp90. For TRPA1 extracellular staining, cells were harvested, resuspended in staining buffer (1X PBS, 1% BSA, 0.01% NaN
3), and then incubated with primary anti-mouse TRPA1 antibody for 30 min on ice. After direct staining, any excess unbound antibody was washed out with an additional staining buffer. Subsequently, a secondary fluorochrome-conjugated (AF-488) antibody was administrated and incubated for 30 min followed by washing with staining buffer. The rabbit IgG was used as isotype control [
56]. Samples (10,000 cells/sample) were then acquired via BD FACS Calibur/BD LSRFortessa (BD Biosciences) and analyzed using FlowJo v10.8.1.
Cell death/apoptosis analysis was conducted using PE Annexin V Apoptosis Detection Kit I (BD Biosciences). Freshly harvested cells were washed with 1X PBS followed by incubation with Annexin V in Annexin V binding buffer for 15 min. The assay was conducted by following the manufacturer’s protocol [
78]. Samples were immediately acquired via FC and analyzed using FlowJo v10.8.1.
Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
ELISA was performed to quantify and analyze the cytokine levels in RAW 264.7 and THP-1 cell culture supernatants under different experimental conditions of LPS/PMA,17-AAG, HC-0300031, and AITC. Sandwich ELISA was executed using the BD OptEIA™ sandwich ELISA kit (BD Biosciences) following the instructions of the manufacturer’s protocol [
56]. The cytokine concentration in each sample was estimated in pg/ml from the standard curve.
Western blotting
To analyze the expression of various proteins of interest, a western blot was performed after stimulating the cells with LPS (500 ng/ml) and pharmacological modulators. In brief, respective cells (RAW 264.7 and THP-1) were treated with LPS (500 ng/ml) for 15 min, washed with 1X PBS, and immediately harvested. Cell lysis, protein estimation, and western blotting were done according to the protocol mentioned earlier [
56]. Briefly, cells were harvested and washed with 1X PBS and whole cell lysates (WCL) were prepared using Radio Immuno Precipitation Assay (RIPA) buffer. The lysates were centrifuged at 13,000 rpm for 30 min at 4 °C. The protein concentrations were then quantified using the Bradford reagent (Sigma-Aldrich). The same amount of proteins was loaded in 10% SDS-gel. After running, the gels were blotted on a PVDF membrane (Millipore, MA, USA) and then blocked by 3% BSA in TBST. The blots were cut before antibody staining, then incubated overnight with primary antibodies, Hsp90 (1:1000), TRPA1 (1:1000), GAPDH (1:5000), Cleaved Caspase 3 (1:1000), p38 (1:2000), SAPK/JNK (1:2000), ERK (1:2000). The blots were then washed with TBST, 3 times, 5 min each. Then, HRP-conjugated secondary antibodies were added and blots were incubated for 2 h at RT. Blots were then washed with TBST, 3 times, 5 min each, and chemiluminescent detection reagent (Immobilon Western Chemiluminescent HRP substrate, Millipore) was added and images were captured by ChemiDoc (Bio-Rad). The ImageLab analysis software was used for band intensity quantification of western blot images with normalization to the corresponding loading controls.
Calcium (Ca2+) influx analysis
To evaluate the Ca
2+ influx after the administration of various stimuli and pharmacological modulators, the cells were incubated with 5 µM Fluo-4 AM for 45–60 min in HBSS buffer and subjected to de-esterification for 15 min in 1X PBS. Cells were then incubated in an HBSS medium and Ca
2+ influx was analyzed in FC by measuring the time-dependent fluorescence intensity upon adding the respective modulators, as mentioned earlier [
79]. The data were analyzed using FlowJo for kinetic studies and obtaining mean fluorescence every 10 s.
Nitrite estimation
The supernatant of macrophages was treated with the differential conditions of LPS/PMA,17-AAG, HC-0300031, and AITC for 6, 12, and 24 h in colorless RPMI-1640. About 100 µl of supernatants were used to measure NO levels with 100 µl of 1% sulfanilamide and 100 µl of 0.1% N-1-naphthylenediamine dihydrochloride [
80]. Samples were incubated for 10 min and the absorbance values were read at 540 nm using a microplate reader (Epoch 2 microplate reader, BioTek, USA). Nitrite concentrations were calculated from a standard graph prepared using different concentrations of sodium nitrite dissolved in colorless RPMI-1640.
Statistical analysis
Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 9.0 software (GraphPad Software Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). The comparison between the groups was performed by one-way ANOVA or two-way ANOVA with the Bonferroni posthoc test unless otherwise mentioned. The data is represented as the mean ± SD of three independent experiments (n = 3). p < 0.05 was reflected as a statistically significant relation between the respective groups (ns, non-significant; * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001).
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