Yutong Li
Haiyang Yu
Juan Feng- Department of Neurology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
Immunoinflammatory mechanisms have been incrementally found to be involved in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases, with chemokines being the main drivers of immune cell infiltration in the inflammatory response. Chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1), a novel chemokine, is highly expressed in the human peripheral blood leukocytes and exerts broad-spectrum chemotactic and pro-proliferative effects by activating multiple downstream signaling pathways upon binding to its functional receptors. Furthermore, the relationship between CKLF1 overexpression and various systemic diseases has been demonstrated in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. In this context, it is promising that clarifying the downstream mechanism of CKLF1 and identifying its upstream regulatory sites can yield new strategies for targeted therapeutics of immunoinflammatory diseases.
1 Introduction
Chemokines were discovered in the early 1970s and late 1980s (1–3). They are a group of positive-charged cytokines with molecular weights of 8-10 kDA (4, 5) that regulate the infiltration of immune cells and the release of inflammatory mediators, making them an important component of the immune system. The involvement of chemokines in disease pathogenesis relies on their binding to receptors. The selectivity of different chemokines towards receptors is closely related to their ligand types (6). In 1999, chemokines were classified into four classic families using a systematic nomenclature based on different structures: CC, CXC, C, and CX3C (7). In 2001, Han et al. discovered and reported CKLF1, a novel chemokine with atypical structure, and its three variants (8). They also identified chemokine-like factor superfamily members (CKLFSF) by reverse transcription PCR techniques in the subsequent studies (9). Owing to the presence of a MARVEL (MAL and related proteins for vesical trafficking and membrane link) domain, CKLFSF1-8 were renamed as CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing 1-8 (CMTM1-8) by the International Human Genetics Nomenclature Committee in 2005 (10). CMTM family (CMTMs), consisting of CKLF and CMTM1-8, is widely expressed in human tissues and plays multiple biological functions. CMTM1 negatively regulates the Ca2+ response in the ER and results in lymphoma cells apoptosis (11). CMTM2 is involved in the development and function of Leydig cells and modulates testicular testosterone production (12). CMTM3 mediates cell-cell adhesion and contributes to angiogenesis (13). CMTM4 plays an important role in tumors via regulating PD-L1 expression (14–16). CMTM5 exerts anti-atherosclerotic effects by suppressing migration and proliferation in the vessel wall (17). Deficiency of CMTM5 in oligodendrocytes leads to progressive axonopathy (18). Both CMTM5 and CMTM7 are biomarkers in human breast carcinoma (19). Targeting CMTM6 may improve the treatment of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) (20). Over-expression of CMTM8 inhibits the invasion and metastasis of carcinoma cells, which provides a new potential target in the treatment of bladder cancer and other tumors (21, 22). CKLF1, as the most researched isoform, has potent broad-spectrum chemotactic and pro-proliferative capacity. Animal models and in vitro experiments have shown that CKLF1 acts in disorders affecting multiple systems by mediating different downstream signaling pathways. In this review, we outline the biology of CKLF1 and its receptors, discuss the links between CKLF1 and different diseases, and detail its downstream signaling pathways and therapies that target these mechanisms.
2 The structure of CKLF1 and its functions
CKLF1 is an intrinsically highly hydrophobic secretory protein obtained from pha-stimulated U937 cells. As a member of the CMTM family of proteins, CKLF1 has a contiguous CC structure similar to MDC (CCL22) and TARC (CCL17) but distinguishes from the CC family members by the absence of the C-terminal cysteine (8). There are differences in the expression levels of CKLF1 in adults and fetuses - higher levels of CKLF1 can be detected in peripheral leukocytes, spleen, lungs, and reproductive organs in adults. In contrast, higher expression was observed in fetal hearts, brains, and skeletal muscles (23). These findings suggest that CKLF1 may contribute to the physiological processes of human growth, and its abnormal expression could be a predictor of pathological states. Since CKLF1, MDC and TARC are structurally similar and are all situated on chromosome 16 (24), they may be evolutionarily conserved and have common biological activities. Furthermore, MDC and TARC bind specifically to CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) and exert critical roles in allergic diseases (25). Therefore, CKLF1 may act as an immunoinflammatory factor and participate in pathogenesis through CCR4.
CCR4 is the most intensively studied CKLF1 receptor (26). It has seven typical transmembrane helices of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). CCR4 is expressed in activated TH2 cells, Treg cells, activated natural killer cells, basophils, monocytes, platelets, and mature T-cell tumors (27). The C-terminal helix 8 of CCR4 facilitates the signaling and activation of chemokine receptors (28). CKLF1 has two stable secreted forms at the C-terminus – C19 peptide and C27 peptide. It can act via the Gi/o pathway upon binding to CCR4. C27/CCR4 exerts strong chemotactic properties, while the C19 peptide weakly activates CCR4 and may be a candidate antagonist of CKLF1 (29). As another GPCR receptor of CKLF1, CCR3 is mainly expressed in eosinophils and can also be detected on the surface of Th2 cells, basophils, and mast cells (30). Mouse model experiments have established that CCR3 plays a critical role in allergic airway inflammation (31). Moreover, the C19 peptide inhibits CCR3-mediated chemotaxis and has excellent therapeutic potential in managing allergic asthma (32). Meanwhile, CCR5 was initially identified as a receptor of chemokines, including CCL3, CCL4, and CCL5 (33). Its expression modestly reduces the risk of type 1 diabetes and celiac disease (34). CCR5+ leukocytes include Treg cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, monocytes, and macrophages (35). A study by Chen et al. reported that CCR5 mediates neutrophil migration and participates in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury by acting as a receptor for CKLF1 (36). Given the structural similarity of CKLF1 to members of the CC chemokine family, there are likely to be other typical or atypical CKLF1-binding GPCRs. Therefore, a further expansion of the CKLF1 receptor family is to be anticipated.
CKLF1 interacts with various cells, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neuronal cells, playing an integral role in the transport of immune cells and the production of immune mediators. The activated GPCRs cause the G protein subunits to dissociate and the GDP to exchange with GTP following the binding of CKLF1 to GPCRs as CCR4, CCR3 and CCR5. The Gα and Gβ subunits further activate downstream signaling pathways and exert broad chemotactic activities. Dendritic cells (DCs) possess potent antigen-presenting functionality and are involved in Th1/Th2 polarization (37). In vitro experiments suggest CKLF1 may stimulate DC maturation through the NF-κB and MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway (38, 39). It has been found that peptides C19 and C27 stimulated the secretion of IL-12 in DCs and promoted the production of IFN-γ, which in turn affected the ability of DCs to activate Th1 cells while not affecting the activation of Th2 cells. The expression of CCR4 was detected on DCs, but whether the mentioned processes were mediated via CCR4 needs further investigation (40). In addition to participating in DC activation, CKLF1 may also regulate the activation of T lymphocytes. It has been shown that the mRNA levels and protein expression levels of CKLF1 were increased in activated CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in a time-dependent manner (41). CD4+ T cells expressing CXCL5 and CD57 are localized explicitly to germinal centers and are called GC-Th cells. GC-Th cells are activated in a CD28 co-stimulatory signal-dependent manner, producing and secreting large amounts of CXCL13 as critical chemokines for B-cell entry into lymphoid follicles. Gene expression profiling revealed that GC-Th cells might induce the expression of CKLF1 and participate in the above process, but the exact regulatory mechanism is not yet clear (42). In addition, CKLF1 also mediates an important non-immune function, namely pro-proliferative capacity, targeting skeletal muscle cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and bone marrow cells, providing therapeutic orientations for myasthenia gravis, vascular diseases, and hematological disorders (43–45).
3 CKLF1-related diseases
Various chemokines are involved in the development of many acute and chronic diseases by regulating the inflammatory environment. Chemokines do not correspond to diseases in a piecewise manner but are intertwined into networks. Many chemokine-receptor combinations may exert similar cellular functions in different diseases, while the same chemokine may bridge specific signaling pathways with different effects on disease progression. The role of CKLF1 in coordinating immune responses in different systemic diseases has been reported, and it would be meaningful to study the effects of CKLF1 targeting different cells in these diseases. In this section, we will present diseases associated with the undesirable effects of CKLF1, focusing on the underlying mechanisms of CKLF1 actions in different systemic diseases and the evidence supporting these effects of CKLF1. Here we list references containing reviews related to the diseases explored for readers to follow in more detail (Table 1).
Table 1 The association of CKLF1 with diseases.
3.1 CKLF1 and neurological diseases
3.1.1 Cerebral ischemia
Ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability worldwide, resulting in 6 million deaths and 5 million permanent disabilities yearly (75). Although reperfusion may help to rescue the ischemic semidark zone, it can exacerbate neuroinflammation and worsen brain damage. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption induced by neutrophil migration and release of pro-inflammatory factors participates in the pathophysiological process of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Following the onset of stroke, activated microglia and astrocytes secrete pro-inflammatory mediators such as chemokines, with neutrophils migrating to the lesion site within a few hours. The infiltrating neutrophils release cytokines, including proteases, which activate glial cells via positive feedback, synergistically destroying the BBB and causing neuronal necrosis (76). The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio is of great value in estimating the severity and prognosis of cerebral ischemic injury (46). Microglia are the primary cells governing the intrinsic immune response of the brain. Microglia/macrophage polarization has been proven to regulate the development of various central nervous system disorders, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury (77, 78). Microglia are activated into two types in early cerebral ischemia: the pro-inflammatory M1 microglia, and the anti-inflammatory M2 microglia. The brain microenvironment favors M1 polarization, leading to brain injury progression and neurological deficits.
Preliminary experimental studies have confirmed that CKLF1 plays a central role in I/R injury. Research using a rat model of cerebral ischemic injury showed that CKLF1 expression was significantly elevated at the injury site after 3 hours and peaked after 48 hours. Knockdown of CKLF1 by HIF-1α-guided AAV in the ischemic area of the rat brain reduced the size and water content of the infarct area, confirming that CKLF1 exerts a pro-inflammatory effect in the early stage of cerebral ischemia to aggravate the injury. Immunohistochemical staining and an MPO activity assay showed that CKLF1/CCR5 mediated neutrophil migration through the AKT/GSK-3β pathway (75). In contrast, an earlier study reported that an anti-CKLF1 antibody inhibited neutrophil infiltration via the MAPK pathway (47). The different results may originate from the differences in CKLF1 distribution in the brain. The expression of CKLF1 is spatially specific in cerebral ischemic injury and primarily occurs in the cortex, thalamus, and hippocampus (46). Therefore, selective knockdown of CKLF1 at different sites may affect the experimental results differently. In addition, the selection of the time window may bring limitations to the experimental results - CKLF1 may mediate different signaling pathways or combine multiple signaling pathways to effect at different stages after the onset of ischemia-reperfusion injury. In vitro experiments have demonstrated that CKLF1 partially depends on CCR4 to regulate M1 polarization of BV2 microglia and induce oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) injury (48). Experiments using a mouse MCAO (middle cerebral artery occlusion) model showed that either exogenous or endogenous CKLF1 could promote M1 polarization in microglia during early cerebral ischemia, and the polarization process was associated with CKLF1/CCR4 axis-mediated activation of the NF-κB pathway (49). AQP4, MMP-9, and tight junction (TJ) proteins are markers that reflect BBB function. Overexpression of AQP4 is a significant cause of brain water imbalance (50). Inhibition of CKLF1 reduced AQP4 and MMP-9 levels, upregulated the expression of TJ proteins, including ZO-1 and Occludin, and attenuated brain edema in rats (51).
3.1.2 Brain development
The development of the cerebral cortex is accomplished through complex modulations on neurogenesis, neuronal migration, and neuronal connectivity. Disruptions in these processes can lead to neuropsychiatric disorders such as drug-resistant epilepsy, intellectual disability, and schizophrenia (79). Chemokines play a role in brain development by regulating synaptic transmission, cell migration, and other processes through autocrine or paracrine signaling (80). Not only is CXCR4/CXCL12 involved in inducing neurogenesis (81), but the CXCR4/CXCR7/CXCL12 axis may also guide cortical neuronal migration (82). In vitro experiments have shown that stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) acted on the migration of various neurons in the dentate gyrus, cerebral cortex, and brainstem nuclei. RANTES was found to have a stimulating effect on the migration of dorsal root ganglion cells (83). The expression level of CKLF1 mRNA in the adult brain was found to be well below that of the fetal brain (52). This discrepancy in expression may indicate that CKLF1 is involved in brain developmental processes. It was observed that CKLF1 induced the migration of neurons in the rat cerebral cortex in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 200 nM and 2000 nM (53), and this process was mediated through the non-extracellular Ca+-dependent tyrosine kinase pathway (54).
3.2 CKLF1 and respiratory diseases
3.2.1 Bronchial asthma
Bronchial asthma is a heterogeneous chronic inflammatory disease with inflammation, hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and remodeling of the airways as the primary pathophysiological mechanisms characterized by Th2 lymphocyte and eosinophil infiltration. Airway epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages generate various chemokines in response to allergic or non-allergic stimuli, recruiting inflammatory cells toward the bronchial mucosa and participating in the onset and progression of asthma. The role of several chemokine receptors in asthma has been reported - CCR4 was found to be highly expressed in Th2 cells, and CCL17/CCR4, CCL22/CCR4 mediated the migration of Th2 cells and triggered allergic airway responses (84–86). CCR4-targeting inhibitors such as thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC-PE38) have alleviated airway inflammation (87). Meanwhile, CCR3 is involved in eosinophil transport as a major receptor and acts with CCR4, CCR5, CCR6, CCR8, and CXCR4 to induce airway inflammation and AHR (88).
Mouse models provide excellent insights into the roles of specific chemokines in the respiratory system. Intramuscular injection of CKLF1 plasmid to BALB/c mice increased the total leukocyte count and eosinophil percentage in BALF, causing pathological lung modifications consistent with bronchial asthma (55). This process is facilitated by the CKLF1/CCR4-mediated NF-κB pathway (56). C19 peptide inhibited Th2 cell responses, eosinophilia, and AHR in a mouse allergic asthma model by acting on CCR4 and CCR3. In contrast, the C27 peptide caused a mild increase in total leukocytes in BALF of asthmatic mice, which was not statistically significant (57). It was found that inhibition of CKLF1 binding to CCR4 with antagonists alleviated airway symptoms in asthmatic mice and attenuated airway remodeling and lung fibrosis caused by epithelial cell and fibroblast proliferation (58). A clinical study confirmed that CKLF1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in the peripheral blood of asthmatic patients compared to controls and that CKLF1 level in the airways of these patients was much higher than in normal subjects (59).
3.2.2 Allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa prominently marked by elevated IgE. It has pathogenesis similar to that of bronchial asthma featuring typical biphasic responses - with the early phase characterized by IgE activating basophils and mast cells to secrete cytokines, causing allergic symptoms including running nose and itching; then the pro-inflammatory factors further activate inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, initiating late-phase responses that lead to sustained symptoms (89). Th2 cells promote the synthesis and secretion of IgE, which is critical in the above responses (90). Intranasal and intraperitoneal administration of C19 peptide to allergic rhinitis mice relieved symptoms and decreased serum IgE concentrations, with better efficacy of intranasal than intraperitoneal delivery (32). These findings substantiate that C19 peptide may be used as a therapeutic agent for allergic rhinitis by intranasal administration.
3.3 CKLF1 and rheumatic diseases
3.3.1 Arthritis
The main types of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), with characteristic pathological changes being infiltration of the periarticular synovial tissue by mixed inflammatory cells. The successful development of TNF antibodies and soluble TNF receptor antagonists confirms the vital contribution of TNF in these diseases. TNF is known to induce the production of various chemokines, regulate inflammatory cell infiltration and vascular proliferation, and participate in the pathogenesis of arthritis. Several studies have identified receptors for chemokines, including CCR2, CXCR2, and CXCR3, on infiltrating cells from patients with arthritis (91–93). Among them, the presence of CCR5 is often associated with the deficiency of rheumatoid factor (94).
Given the scarcity of animal models of arthritis concerning CKLF1, most evidence was derived from clinical studies. A study (60) included 16 patients with OA, 15 with RA, and 10 with AS and measured levels of CKLF1, CCR4 mRNA, and plasma inflammatory markers. The results showed that CKLF1 levels were increased in synovial membranes of patients with RA, OA, or AS, and patients with RA presented with concomitant upregulation of CCR4 mRNA expression. The authors theorized that CKLF1 in RA acts through binding to CCR4, while in OA and AS, it may mediate disease progression through pathways other than the CKLF1/CCR4 axis. Several other clinical studies have found a positive correlation between CKLF1 levels and C-reactive protein (CRP)/sedimentation (ESR) in patients with RA, suggesting that CKLF1 may be a sensitive indicator for evaluating disease activity. However, in patients with OA and AS, findings contradict previous reports, which require verification through further studies (61–63).
3.3.2 Other rheumatic diseases
In addition to arthritis, CKLF1 also finds a role in other rheumatic diseases. CKLF1 and CCR4 levels were significantly elevated at the lesion sites in patients with psoriasis (64). The proposed mechanism is that CKLF1 induces lymphocyte migration to the skin and promotes microvascular dilation and endothelial cell proliferation, mediating the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The role of the C19 peptide in psoriasis is still controversial. It has been shown that the C19 peptide significantly reduced the number of neutrophils in patients with psoriasis and exerted a protective role in psoriasis through the MAPK signaling pathway (65). Despite being weaker than the C27 peptide, the C19 peptide has also been shown to promote the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells (64). The different biological effects induced by the C19 peptide may result from the variability of the local inflammatory environment (95). CKLF1 is expressed at low levels in normal kidneys and exerts a physiological chemotactic function. Overexpression of CKLF1 resulted in increased urinary protein in mice, which exhibited the pathological modifications of lupus nephritis (LN). CKLF1 levels in LN patients were positively correlated with the lupus activity index and could be used as a valid predictor of disease activity (66). Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) manifests itself primarily by thrombosis and recurrent obstetric events. CKLF1 may compromise platelet activity and function by participating in the hemostatic and thrombotic processes, leading to the aggravation of APS (67). In inflammatory myopathies, intratubular thrombin induces the expression of CKLF1. CKLF1 may be a marker of myofiber regeneration in its ability to attract lymphocytes and regenerate myofibers (68).
3.4 CKLF1 and circulatory diseases
Atherosclerosis is known as an inflammatory mechanism-mediated disease. Studies on chemokines in atherosclerosis models are relatively well established. In response to inflammatory injury, the release of chemokines from activated endothelial cells and arterial smooth muscle cells induces monocyte adhesion to the vascular endothelium and contributes to forming foam cells. In addition, chemokines promote the migration of smooth muscle cells to the endothelium and their attachment to the plaque to form a thrombus (96). Monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), Fractalkine (CX3CL1), RANTES (CCL5), and eotaxin (CCL11) are involved in the development of atherosclerosis (97–100). Restenosis (RS) is highly prevalent at six months after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, with restenosis rates of up to 30-50% (101) in patients treated with balloon angioplasty or bare metal stents and still up to 12-20% with drug-eluting stents (102). The pathogenesis of RS is very similar to that of atherosclerosis, with extensive involvement of chemokines.
Many researchers have applied a balloon injury rat model to explore the effects of CKLF1. Early studies found that CKLF1 levels were significantly elevated in the neointima after injury and co-localized with vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). C19 peptide potently inhibited VSMC migration and endothelial proliferation after CKLF1 transfection (69). A subsequent study showed that CKLF1 acted on G2/M-phase VSMCs to regulate the balance between proliferation and apoptosis and accelerate neoplastic endothelial formation. This process was regulated through the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway (70). These results were confirmed in later clinical studies. It was found that the expression of CKLF1 and vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was significantly increased in human carotid plaques compared to controls. Meanwhile, CKLF1 promoted the aggregation of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) and monocyte adhesion through the NF-κB/VCAM-1 pathway (71).
3.5 CKLF1 and tumors
The role of chemokines in tumors is not limited to the recruitment of leukocytes but may also interfere with cell proliferation and the generation of new blood vessels. Melanoma growth-stimulating activity (MGSA) and IL-8 may act as tumor growth factors that directly contribute to the development of melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (103, 104). It was revealed that CXC chemokines containing the Glu-Leu-Arg motif (ELR motif) promoted angiogenesis, while non-ELR CXC chemokines counteracted it (105). This may indicate that the bidirectional regulatory effects of chemokines in tumors are structure-related. As a novel chemokine, the structure of CKLF1 is highly characteristic. Exploring the role of CKLF1 in tumors may provide more possibilities for targeted therapy.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is closely correlated with structural protein degradation of the aortic wall mediated by inflammatory mechanisms. A rat AAA model study showed that CKLF1 levels were elevated in the AAA group compared to controls, with a significant positive correlation with MMP-2 levels, confirming that CKLF1 promotes AAA through upregulating the expression of MMP in the extracellular matrix (72). It was also found that basal CKLF1 levels were higher in keloid individuals than in those without keloids, and the expression of CKLF1 mRNA was higher in keloid tissues than in normal tissues, suggesting that CKLF1 could be instrumental in predicting keloids. However, the exact mechanism remains to be further elucidated (73). Most clinical studies on CKLF1 in malignancies have focused on hepatocellular carcinoma. One study reported that in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, CKLF1 levels were significantly higher in cancer tissues compared to normal tissues, and the expression levels were higher in advanced cancer than in the early stages. Additionally, this research demonstrates that CKLF1 mediated its oncogenic effects through the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway and could assist in the staging and prognostic assessment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (74).
4 Mechanisms of CKLF1-mediated pathogenesis
The activation and crosstalk of diverse intracellular signaling pathways are involved in the mechanism of CKLF1-mediated pathologies, including the NF-κB pathway, MAPK pathway, JAK/STAT3 pathway, and PI3K/AKT pathway.
4.1 NF-κB signaling pathway
NF-κB is a crucial nuclear transcription factor widely present in animal tissues and participates in the regulation of processes, including immune inflammatory responses, cell proliferation and differentiation. The NF-κB transcription factor family consists of five proteins that share the Rel homologous structural domain: RelA (p65), RelB, cRel, NF-κB1 (p105/p50), and NF-κB2 (p100/p52). Without stimulatory signals, NF-κB is complexed with IκB in the cytoplasm and remains in dynamic homeostasis. In contrast, when the NF-κB pathway is activated by stimulating factors, it exerts effects through classical and non-classical pathways (alternative pathways) (106). In the classical pathway, PRRs (pattern recognition receptors), inflammatory cytokine receptors, TCRs (T cell receptors), and BCRs (B cell receptors) act as stimulatory signals to the IκB kinase (IKK) complex, causing IκB phosphorylation, which leads to the release of NF-κB dimers and their translocation to the nucleus, promoting the transcription of a variety of target genes (107). The NF-κB alternative pathway can be activated by members of the TNFR superfamily, with p100 processing being a key link in this pathway. An NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) and IKKα act as essential factors for p100/RelB processing, which leads to the activation of P52/RelB. This heterodimer may bind to different promoter regions and exert diverse biological effects upon entry into the nucleus (108).
Unlike other ligands of CCR4, such as TRAC and MDC, CKLF1 can activate the NF-κB classical signaling pathway involved in disease-causing mechanisms, which may have to do with its specific structure. A study on human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells showed that CKLF1 mediates monocyte adhesion and smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration through the NF-κB/VCAM-1 pathway and that the use of PDTC, an NF-κB inhibitor, suppressed the CKLF1-induced elevation of VCAM-1 (71). A mouse MCAO model study showed that CKLF1 binding to CCR4 activated the NF-κB pathway and promoted microglia/macrophage polarization toward the M1 phenotype (49). CKLF1 also induces significant airway inflammation and pathological changes in mouse lungs by triggering NF-κB-regulated gene expression, which results in the release of multiple pro-inflammatory mediators, including IL-4, IL-13, and TNF-α (55). The chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin (CDDP) provokes elevated levels of CKLF1 and NF-κB in HK-2 renal tubular epithelial cells and mouse kidneys, inducing inflammatory injury and nephrotoxicity. In contrast, Kanglaite (KLT) and hydroxytyrosol (HT) could partially reverse the adverse effects of CDDP by acting on the IκB-NF-κB complex and inhibiting the CKLF1-mediated NF-κB pathway (109). There is still a lack of research on the effect of CKLF1 in the NF-κB alternative pathway. However, this does not mean that CKLF1 acts only through the classical pathway. Some non-TNFR receptors have been shown to serve as stimulatory signals in the NF-κB alternative pathway (108). With the exploration of CKLF1 receptors, further studies may bring more insights into its pathogenic mechanisms. (Figure 1)
Figure 1 CKLF1 binds to CCR4 and activates the NF-κB classical pathway, causing a variety of biological processes, including the release of inflammatory factors in the nucleus, the transcription of anti-apoptotic genes, and the expression of mitogenic proteins, which are involved in the regulation of immune-inflammatory responses.
4.2 MAPK signaling pathway
MAPK pathways are highly conserved in all eukaryotic cells that consist of typical three-tier core signaling modules: MAP3Ks, MAP2Ks, and MAPKs. Through hierarchical phosphorylation across these modules, MAPK pathways can mediate gene transcription and regulate biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Mammalian cells share three well-defined MAPK signaling pathways: ERK pathway, JNK pathway, and p38 pathway. Rather than being independent of each other, the three may share some upstream regulators and downstream target genes. MAPK pathways can be activated by many stimuli, including cytokines, growth factors, and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) (110).
Recent studies indicate that CKLF1 acts as a stimulatory factor to regulate the MAPK pathway and that the chemotactic activity of CKLF1 is partially dependent on the MAPK pathway, particularly neutrophil infiltration. A study utilizing an I/R model found that the expression of CKLF1 was significantly upregulated. The use of CKLF1 antibody significantly reduced the phosphorylation levels of ERK, JNK, and p38, inhibited the production of cytokines (TNF-α, MIP-2, and IL-1β) and the expression of adhesion factors (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1), and reduced the recruitment of neutrophils to the ischemic area (111). Fang et al. further demonstrated that treatment with the C19 peptide reduced the phosphorylation level of MAPK, with more pronounced effects on JNK and p38 (112). In vitro experiments with human umbilical vein endothelial cells have shown that the C19 peptide antagonized ERK and p38 signaling pathways, suggesting that it might be beneficial in psoriasis by inhibiting inflammatory infiltration and microvascular proliferation (65). In addition, it was shown that phosphorylation of JNK and p38 was involved in microglia M1 polarization, and CKLF1 could bind to CCR4 receptors on microglia. However, whether CKLF1 activates MAPK pathways through CCR4 receptors to mediate microglia polarization remains to be further investigated (113) (Figure 2).
Figure 2 CKLF1 mediates cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis by binding to CCR4 and activating the MAPK signaling pathway to induce intranuclear gene transcription.
4.3 IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway
The IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway is involved in regulating cell growth and differentiation, making it potentially critical in tumorigenesis and metastasis. Activation of the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway often indicates poor prognosis in cancer patients (114, 115). It was established that IL-6 was highly expressed in the inflammatory and tumor microenvironment and bound to IL-6R and gp130 to form a heterohexameric complex to initiate signaling pathways and induce activation of gp130-associated JAKs. Mammals harbor four JAKs: JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and TYK2, all of which can be activated in this pathway, mediating the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues to form protein docking sites. The same study also illustrated that STAT3 acted as an important substrate for JAK and was phosphorylated at tyrosine 705 (Y705). The phosphorylated STAT3 is then dimerized and translocated to the nucleus to regulate gene transcription (116).
The involvement of CKLF1 in tumor development may be related to its role in mediating the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway. STAT3 is an important regulator in the metabolism of tumor cells. Overexpressed CKLF1 increases pyruvate kinase activity and promotes lactate production, which is accomplished by regulating STAT3. A study based on a hepatocellular carcinoma model demonstrated that CKLF1 regulates the tumor microenvironment by binding to CCR4 to initiate the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway, upregulating STAT3-related cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-17A, and inducing the expression of cell cycle regulatory genes including BCL-XL and cyclinsD1. In addition, these authors found that CKLF1 was able to affect the cell cycle of adriamycin (DOX)-transfected cells through the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway, promoting proliferation in the G2/M phase and inhibiting DOX-induced apoptosis (74) (Figure 3).
Figure 3 CKLF1 binds to CCR4 and induces the cell cycle regulatory gene expression through the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway, which is involved in tumor development.
4.4 PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
PI3K (an oncogene) is one component of the PI3K/AKT pathway, which is widely involved in tumors and immune-inflammatory diseases. The activation of tyrosine kinase receptors (RTKs), cytokine receptors, and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) may act as upstream stimulatory signals of the PI3K/AKT pathway to activate PI3K (117). Activated PI3K catalyzes the conversion of PtdIns(4,5)P2 phosphorylation to PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, which acts as a second messenger to recruit AKT to specific sites on the cytoplasmic membrane. AKT is activated by the combined action of PDPK1 (phosphatidylinositol-dependent protein kinase 1) and mTORC2 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2) protein kinase to act on diverse downstream substrates and carry out biological functions like regulating cellular metabolism (118, 119).
CKLF1 has been found to contribute to inflammatory injury through a PI3K/AKT-dependent mechanism. VSMCs at lesion sites after vascular injury secrete CKLF1, which binds to the G protein-coupled receptor CCR4 to activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which regulates target gene transcription decreases susceptibility to apoptosis of G2/M phase cells and accelerates VSMC accumulation (120). Studies have revealed that CCR5 expression was upregulated after nerve injury (121, 122). In parallel, the CKLF1/CCR5 axis can activate downstream GSK3 via the AKT pathway and mediate neutrophil migration (36) (Figure 4).
Figure 4 CKLF1 binds to both CCR4 and CCR5 and activates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which plays a role in inflammatory injury through diverse downstream substrates of AKT and mTORC1.
4.5 Other signaling pathways
In addition to the four kinds of classical inflammatory signaling pathways, CKLF1 also functions by mediating other signaling pathways. Protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2) is commonly present in actin filaments and is involved in the actin skeleton reorganization process. CKLF1 regulates cell migration-associated actin backbone reorganization via the non-extracellular Ca2+-dependent PYK2 pathway. A study found that CKLF1 in SH-SY5Y cells affected downstream phospholipase C-γ (PLC-γ) activity by binding to CCR4, triggering the hydrolysis of membrane phosphatidylinositides PIP2 and the production of second messengers DAG and IP3. IP3 then modulated the migration of SH-SY5Y cells by inducing the release of stored calcium ions and initiating autophosphorylation at the PYK2-tyr402 site (54) (Figure 5). NLRP3 inflammasomes are multimeric cytoplasmic protein complexes composed of the sensor protein NLRP3 linked to ASC and caspase-1, which are closely associated with oncological and metabolic diseases (123). CKLF1 was found to act on NLRP3-related signaling pathways and exert pro-inflammatory effects. CKLF1 expression was increased in the context of cerebral ischemic injury. Overexpressed CKLF1 bound to CCR4 and mediated the activation of downstream NLRP3 inflammasomes. The activation of caspase-1 then invoked the maturation and release of IL-1β, IL-18, and other pro-inflammatory cytokines, further exacerbating the inflammatory injury (124) (Figure 6).
Figure 5 CKLF1 binds to CCR4 and induces the release of stored Ca2+ through the PYK2 pathway, activates autophosphorylation at the PYK2-tyr402 site, and regulates the migration of SH-SY5Y cells.
Figure 6 CKLF1 binds to CCR4 and mediates the activation of downstream NLRP3 inflammasomes. Activated caspase-1 induces maturation and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and exacerbates inflammatory injury.
4.6 Signaling crosstalk
The different signaling pathways mediated by CKLF1 are not independent of each other but present signaling crosstalk that is highly dependent on the cellular environment. CKLF1 can simultaneously activate multiple signaling pathways involved in the pathogenic process. IL-6 and STAT3 are key components of the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway and are also important products downstream of NF-κB. STAT3 acts on the CKLF1-mediated NF-κB pathway through two routes: a. STAT3 inhibits IKK activity and attenuates NF-κB pathway-associated Th1 cell immunity; b. activated STAT3 inhibits nuclear NF-κB-IκB complex migration to the cytoplasm through P300-mediated acetylation. Nuclear retention of NF-κB-IκB facilitates prolonged activation of the NF-κB pathway (125). In addition to being a stimulatory signal for the JAK/STAT3 pathway, IL-6 activates PI3K/AKT signaling and induces the MAPK cascade via SHP2 (tyrosine phosphatase containing the SH2 domain) (126). Meanwhile, CKLF1 links inflammatory stimuli and cellular responses by mediating MAPK (127–130) and PI3K/AKT (65) pathways to activate NF-κB transcription factors. In addition, NF-κB may be involved in the activation process of NLRP3 inflammasomes by CKLF1, of which the exact mechanism needs further clarifi (131) (Figure 7).
Figure 7 Signaling crosstalk across downstream pathways of CKLF1.
5 Treatments against CKLF1 mechanisms
Given the crucial role of CKLF1 in human diseases, treatments targeting CKLF1, CKLF1 receptors, and related pathways have become a hot research topic in the field of chemokines. (Table 2) Treatments targeting CKLF1 are highly specific and may be a preferred orientation for therapeutic options. A new 3-piperazinylcoumarin analogue (hereafter referred to as compound 41) has been identified as a potent antagonist of CKLF1. In vitro and mouse model experiments showed that compound 41 attenuated asthma pathological changes in CKLF1-transfected mice by inhibiting the binding of CKLF1 to CCR4 and affecting the activation of downstream NF-κB and other transduction pathways (56). By screening and optimization, investigators then obtained two derivatives of compound 41, IMMLG-5521 and IMM-H004. IMMLG-5521 inhibited CKLF1-induced eosinophil infiltration and TNF-α release and attenuated lung injury in rats (133). Subsequent studies showed that IMMLG-5521 inhibited CKLF1-induced eosinophil infiltration and TNF-α release, attenuating lung injury in rats. At the same time, IMM-H004 decreased the activation of microglia via the CKLF1/CCR4 axis, and played a protective role in central nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and brain ischemia (48, 134, 135).
Table 2 Treatments against CKLF1 mechanisms.
CCR4 is highly expressed in CKLF1-related diseases, and therapies targeting this receptor are being diligently developed. A study applied two identified CCR4 antagonists (hereafter referred to as compound 6b and compound 8a) to allergic rhinitis and asthmatic mice and observed that they somewhat alleviated symptoms (32). A CCR4-specific monoclonal antibody (referred to as 10E4 in this study) exhibits efficacy upon binding to the N-terminal end of CCR4 (136). KW-0761, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CCR4, has passed the phase I clinical trial and is intended to treat inflammatory diseases and tumors (132). In addition, the researches of antibodies targeting CCR3 and CCR5 have made some progress. Studies on applying the above antibodies in CKLF1-mediated disease are still lacking, but it could be hypothesized that they exert therapeutic effects by inhibiting the functional receptors of CKLF1. Classical inflammatory pathways dominate CKLF1 downstream signaling, and related inhibitors have been better characterized. For example, NF-κB transcription inhibitors WAY-169916 and Bay-7082, MAPK inhibitors SP600125, PD98059 and SB203580, JAK-STAT3 inhibitors SOCS, CP-609550, and Stattic, as well as PI3K pathway inhibitors LY294002 and Wortmannin (126, 137) can inhibit the biological function of CKLF1 by blocking signal transduction. Treatments targeting CKLF1 signaling pathways suffer from the drawback that similar signaling processes in other cells are affected. However, this drug category still provides a therapeutic option worthy of investigation.
6 Discussion
The discovery of CKLF1 opens up new insights into the immune-inflammatory mechanisms of diseases - excessive production of CKLF1 disrupts the balance of the immune environment to exert harmful effects. Current studies have been directed at the downstream signaling pathways of CKLF1, whereas clarity on its upstream regulatory mechanisms is still lacking. Here, we explored the possible upstream regulatory mechanisms of CKLF1 based on the existing studies on the regulatory mechanisms of chemokine family members. Gene-level regulation is mainly reflected in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The CCL2-2518-A/G polymorphism has been extensively studied and proven to be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (138, 139). SNPs of CXCL9-11 are closely associated with liver fibrosis (140). Apart from that, enhancers and promoters can activate transcription factors like NF-κB and AP-1 in response to inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-6 and engage in the epigenetic regulation of chemokines (141). Post-transcriptional modifications, including DNA methylation and LncRNAs (long-stranded non-coding RNAs), were found to be associated with enhancer and promoter regions (142–144), which can exert a regulatory effect on chemokines by modulating inflammatory factor-responsive cis-acting elements. CHIP assay and luciferase assay showed that NF-κB could bind to the promoter region of the CKLF1 (the core site of the CKLF1 promoter is located at -238 to -249 bp) during ischemia and upregulate its expression (145). This finding confirms the epigenetic regulation mechanism of CKLF1. In recent years, cis-acting elements have emerged as favorable candidates for pharmacological interventions due to their broad activity and high level of target specificity against numerous pro-inflammatory genes. It is thus hypothesized that modulation of CKLF1 level by targeting the core site of the promoter of the CKLF1 gene may be beneficial for clinical treatments.
The main biological effects of CKLF1 are chemotactic activity and proliferation promotion. The good model of cerebral ischemia suggests that CKLF1 plays different roles in different stages of diseases, which may be a combination of the two biological effects. In the early stage of cerebral ischemia, CKLF1 recruits immune cells and aggravates brain injury; in the late stage of cerebral ischemia, CKLF1 promotes neurological recovery by promoting neuron and vascular regeneration (36). Current studies have focused on early stages of diseases, finding the time point at which the effect of CKLF1 changes is challenging. In addition, the role of CKLF1 on microglia polarization may be another reason for the difference. Microglia polarization has been found to be involved in the pathogenesis of a growing number of diseases. In immune-inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis (146), M1 polarization in the early stage can induce the release of pro-inflammatory factors and exacerbate inflammatory response, while M2 polarization in the late stage is beneficial to inflammation regression and tissue repair. It has been confirmed that CKLF1 promotes M1 polarization in early cerebral ischemia, and future studies may further confirm the effect of CKLF1 on M2 polarization in the late stage of diseases. The diverse effects of CKLF1 in different stages of diseases suggest that the timing of using CKLF1 antagonists and agonists should be carefully selected.
Author contributions
JF conceived and revised this review. YL took charge of the original manuscript writing. HY drew the figure and table. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
Funding
This study was supported by the Key Research and Development Program of Liaoning Province,No.2020JH2/10300047(to JF),Outstanding Scientific Fund of Shengjing Hospital(to JF),and National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82271275 to JF).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Abbreviations
CKLFSF, Chemokine-like factor superfamily; MARVEL, MAL and related proteins for vesical trafficking and membrane link; CMTM, CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing; AS, Ankylosing spondylitis; ESR, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; LN, Lupus nephritis; MAPK, Mitogen-activated protein kinase; MS, Multiple sclerosis; RA, Rheumatoid arthritis; VSMCs, Vascular smooth muscle cells.
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Keywords: chemokine-like factor 1, pathogenic mechanism, signaling pathways, immune-related disease, targeted therapy
Citation: Li Y, Yu H and Feng J (2023) Role of chemokine-like factor 1 as an inflammatory marker in diseases. Front. Immunol. 14:1085154. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1085154
Received: 31 October 2022; Accepted: 30 January 2023;
Published: 14 February 2023.
Edited by:
Mario Mellado, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), SpainReviewed by:
Xiu-Yun Song, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, ChinaLinglei Kong, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, China
Dan Han, Nanjing University, China
Qidi Ai, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, China
Copyright © 2023 Li, Yu and Feng. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Juan Feng, juanfeng@cmu.edu.cn