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TNF-alpha modulates adipose macrophage polarization to M1 phenotype in response to scorpion venom

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Abstract

Objective

We previously reported that Androctonus australis hector (Aah) venom and its toxic fraction affect adipose tissue metabolism. However, the contribution of immune system and the role of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) in the progression of inflammation induced by scorpion venom remain largely unknown.

Methods

Here we evaluate the capacity of the toxic fraction of Aah venom (FTox-G50) to induce the expression of M1 and M2 markers genes on adipose tissue and isolated stromal vascular cells (SVC). Quantitative real-time PCR was performed on the SVC 24 h after FTox-G50 venom injection to assess the gene expressions of IL12p40, IL23, and other macrophages-associated markers.

Results

We found that ATM from FTox-G50-venom-injected mice markedly increased the expressions of IL-12p40 and IL-23. Furthermore, the expression of nitric oxide synthase 2 (an M1 marker) was up-regulated, but the expression of Arginase1 (an M2 marker) was not. Systemic injection of a chemical inhibitor directed against TNF-α binding reduced the expression of inflammatory M1 macrophage markers and the MAPKpk2 gene, a key mediator of inflammatory signaling.

Conclusion

These results indicate that TNF-α is a physiological regulator of inflammation and macrophage activation induced by scorpion venom.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Commission for the Evaluation of University Research Projects “CNEPRU grant” number F00220130056. We are grateful to Isabelle Dunand-Sauthier (University of Geneva) for providing the primers sequences to perform quantitative RT-PCR. We are also grateful to Karim Bouzakri (University of Geneva) to providing TNF-α antagonist “Etanercept.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USTHB, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, BP 32 El-Alia, Bab Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria

    Aouatef Ait-Lounis & Fatima Laraba-Djebari

Authors
  1. Aouatef Ait-Lounis
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  2. Fatima Laraba-Djebari
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fatima Laraba-Djebari.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Responsible Editor: John Di Battista.

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Ait-Lounis, A., Laraba-Djebari, F. TNF-alpha modulates adipose macrophage polarization to M1 phenotype in response to scorpion venom. Inflamm. Res. 64, 929–936 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-015-0876-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-015-0876-z

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