AbstractInflammation is a complex physiological process triggered in response to harmful stimuli1. It involves cells of the immune system capable of clearing sources of injury and damaged tissues. Excessive inflammation can occur as a result of infection and is a hallmark of several diseases2–4. The molecular bases underlying inflammatory responses are not fully understood. Here we show that the cell surface glycoprotein CD44, which marks the acquisition of distinct cell phenotypes in the context of development, immunity and cancer progression, mediates the uptake of metals including copper. We identify a pool of chemically reactive copper(ii) in mitochondria of inflammatory macrophages that catalyses NAD(H) redox cycling by activating hydrogen peroxide. Maintenance of NAD+ enables metabolic and epigenetic programming towards the inflammatory state. Targeting mitochondrial copper(ii) with supformin (LCC-12), a rationally designed dimer of metformin, induces a reduction of the NAD(H) pool, leading to metabolic and epigenetic states that oppose macrophage activation. LCC-12 interferes with cell plasticity in other settings and reduces inflammation in mouse models of bacterial and viral infections. Our work highlights the central role of copper as a regulator of cell plasticity and unveils a therapeutic strategy based on metabolic reprogramming and the control of epigenetic cell states.
摘要炎症是一个复杂的生理过程,是对有害刺激的反应1。它涉及免疫系统中能够清除伤害源和受损组织的细胞。过度炎症可因感染而发生,也是多种疾病的标志2-4。炎症反应的分子基础尚不完全清楚。在这里,我们发现细胞表面糖蛋白 C
D44 介导了对包括
铜在内的
金属的吸收,C
D44 标志着在发育、免疫和癌症进展过程中获得不同的细胞表型。我们在炎症巨噬细胞的线粒体中发现了
化学反应性
铜(ii)池,它通过激活
过氧化氢来催化
NAD(H)氧化还原循环。维持
NAD+ 可使新陈代谢和表观遗传学程序趋向炎症状态。超福明(LCC-12)是一种合理设计的二聚
二甲双胍,以线粒体
铜(ii)为靶标,可诱导
NAD(H) 池的减少,导致新陈代谢和表观遗传状态,从而抑制巨噬细胞的活化。在其他情况下,LCC-12 会干扰细胞的可塑性,并在细菌和病毒感染的小鼠模型中减轻炎症。我们的研究凸显了
铜作为细胞可塑性调节剂的核心作用,并揭示了一种基于代谢重编程和表观遗传细胞状态控制的治疗策略。