Recent studies demonstrate that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) plays a critical cytoprotective role in countering oxidative and electrophilic cellular stresses. Nrf2 is activated by a variety of chemicals, including environmental contaminants such as arsenic, cadmium, nickel, cigarette smoke, and diesel exhaust, as well as industrial byproducts, such as tetrafluoroethylcysteine. In addition, several widely used food preservatives also strongly activate Nrf2. Thus, Nrf2 activators are widely disseminated in the environment and in our food. Several papers have recently been published describing the suppressive effects of Nrf2 in innate immunity. In addition, the development of lupus-like pathology in Nrf2-null mice suggests that Nrf2 also plays an important role in adaptive immunity, but no studies examining the role of Nrf2 in lymphocytes have been published to date. Our preliminary data demonstrate that activated Nrf2 inhibits IFN gamma production in activated T cells. Because IFN gamma is a key activator of macrophages and T cells, IFN gamma is considered a vital cytokine for cell-mediated adaptive immune responses (such as a response to a bacterial pathogen). The purpose of the studies proposed in this application is to determine the mechanism by which Nrf2 inhibits IFN gamma production in T cells. This will be accomplished by 1) determining the mechanism by which activation of Nrf2 inhibits IFN gamma transcription 2) determining the mechanism by which tBHQ, a Nrf2 activator, impairs immune responses in vivo and 3) determining the effect of polymorphisms and other variations in the human Keap1 gene (Nrf2 repressor) on T cell function. Because numerous environmental contaminants, industrial byproducts, and commonly used synthetic food preservatives have been shown to activate Nrf2, the effects of Nrf2 activation on different organ systems needs to be fully characterized. This is particularly pertinent for the immune system in which the effects of Nrf2 on adaptive immunity are largely uncharacterized. Moreover, the long-term and/or cumulative exposure of numerous Nrf2 activators should also be considered. The overall purpose of these studies is to determine the mechanism by which Nrf2 impairs T cell function in order to better predict the effects of acute and long-term exposure to Nrf2 activators on the immune system in humans.

Public Health Relevance

Several food preservatives (tBHQ, BHA, etc.) and environmental contaminants (cadmium, arsenic, etc.) activate Nrf2, a protein found in most cell types. Our preliminary studies demonstrate that activation of Nrf2 has a negative impact on T cell function which leads to impaired immune responses. The proposed studies will examine how this occurs in order to better predict the impact of Nrf2 activators on the immune system.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Research Transition Award (R00)
Project #
4R00ES018885-03
Application #
8385694
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (NSS)
Program Officer
Humble, Michael C
Project Start
2012-01-16
Project End
2014-12-31
Budget Start
2012-01-16
Budget End
2012-12-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$249,000
Indirect Cost
$86,785
Name
Michigan State University
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
193247145
City
East Lansing
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48824
Zagorski, Joseph W; Turley, Alexandra E; Freeborn, Robert A et al. (2018) Differential effects of the Nrf2 activators tBHQ and CDDO-Im on the early events of T cell activation. Biochem Pharmacol 147:67-76
VanDenBerg, Kelly R; Freeborn, Robert A; Liu, Sheng et al. (2017) Inhibition of early T cell cytokine production by arsenic trioxide occurs independently of Nrf2. PLoS One 12:e0185579
Zagorski, Joseph W; Maser, Tyler P; Liby, Karen T et al. (2017) Nrf2-Dependent and -Independent Effects of tert-Butylhydroquinone, CDDO-Im, and H2O2 in Human Jurkat T Cells as Determined by CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 361:259-267
Rockwell, Cheryl E; Turley, Alexandra E; Cheng, Xingguo et al. (2017) Persistent alterations in immune cell populations and function from a single dose of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) in C57Bl/6 mice. Food Chem Toxicol 100:24-33
Turley, Alexandra E; Zagorski, Joseph W; Rockwell, Cheryl E (2015) The Nrf2 activator tBHQ inhibits T cell activation of primary human CD4 T cells. Cytokine 71:289-95
Song, Peizhen; Rockwell, Cheryl E; Cui, Julia Yue et al. (2015) Individual bile acids have differential effects on bile acid signaling in mice. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 283:57-64
Mochizuki, Akie; Pace, Aaron; Rockwell, Cheryl E et al. (2014) Hepatic stellate cells orchestrate clearance of necrotic cells in a hypoxia-inducible factor-1?-dependent manner by modulating macrophage phenotype in mice. J Immunol 192:3847-3857
Brandenberger, C; Li, N; Jackson-Humbles, D N et al. (2014) Enhanced allergic airway disease in old mice is associated with a Th17 response. Clin Exp Allergy 44:1282-92
Lopez, Michelle; Kopec, Anna K; Joshi, Nikita et al. (2014) Fas-induced apoptosis increases hepatocyte tissue factor procoagulant activity in vitro and in vivo. Toxicol Sci 141:453-64
O'Brien, Kate M; Allen, Katryn M; Rockwell, Cheryl E et al. (2013) IL-17A synergistically enhances bile acid-induced inflammation during obstructive cholestasis. Am J Pathol 183:1498-1507

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