Cigarette Smoke Extract (CSE) Delays NOD2 Expression and Affects NOD2/RIPK2 Interactions in Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Marian C Aldhous, Kimberley Soo, Lesley A Stark, Agata A Ulanicka, Jennifer E Easterbrook, Malcolm G Dunlop, Jack Satsangi

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Abstract / Description of output

Background: Genetic and environmental factors influence susceptibility to Crohn's disease (CD): NOD2 is the strongest individual genetic determinant and smoking the best-characterised environmental factor. Carriage of NOD2 mutations predispose to small-intestinal, stricturing CD, a phenotype also associated with smoking. We hypothesised that cigarette smoke extract (CSE) altered NOD2 expression and function in intestinal epithelial cells.

Methods and Findings: Intestinal epithelial cell-lines (SW480, HT29, HCT116) were stimulated with CSE and nicotine (to mimic smoking) +/- TNF alpha (to mimic inflammation). NOD2 expression was measured by qRT-PCR and western blotting; NOD2-RIPK2 interactions by co-immunoprecipitation (CoIP); nuclear NF kappa B-p65 by ELISA; NF kappa B activity by luciferase reporter assays and chemokines (CCL20, IL8) in culture supernatants by ELISA. In SW480 and HT29 cells the TNF alpha-induced NOD2 expression at 4 hours was reduced by CSE (p = 0.0226), a response that was dose-dependent (p = 0.003) and time-dependent (p = 0.0004). Similar effects of CSE on NOD2 expression were seen in cultured ileal biopsies from healthy individuals. In SW480 cells CSE reduced TNF alpha-induced NF kappa B-p65 translocation at 15 minutes post-stimulation, upstream of NOD2. Levels of the NOD2-RIPK2 complex were no different at 8 hours post-stimulation with combinations of CSE, nicotine and TNF alpha, but at 18 hours it was increased in cells stimulated with TNF alpha+CSE but decreased with TNF alpha alone (p = 0.0330); CSE reduced TNF alpha-induced NF kappa B activity (p = 0.0014) at the same time-point. At 24 hours, basal CCL20 and IL8 (p<0.001 for both) and TNF alpha-induced CCL20 (p = 0.0330) production were decreased by CSE. CSE also reduced NOD2 expression, CCL20 and IL8 production seen with MDP-stimulation of SW480 cells pre-treated with combinations of TNF alpha and CSE.

Conclusions: CSE delayed TNF alpha-induced NOD2 mRNA expression and was associated with abnormal NOD2/RIPK2 interaction, reduced NF kappa B activity and decreased chemokine production. These effects may be involved in the pathogenesis of small-intestinal CD and may have wider implications for the effects of smoking in NOD2-mediated responses.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere24715
Pages (from-to)-
Number of pages15
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume6
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Sept 2011

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