Topoisomerase 1 inhibition suppresses inflammatory genes and protects from death by inflammation

Alex Rialdi, Laura Campisi, Nan Zhao, Arvin Cesar Lagda, Colette Pietzsch, Jessica Sook Yuin Ho, Luis Martinez-Gil, Romain Fenouil, Xiaoting Chen, Megan Edwards, Giorgi Metreveli, Stefan Jordan, Zuleyma Peralta, Cesar Munoz-Fontela, Nicole Bouvier, Miriam Merad, Jian Jin, Matthew Weirauch, Sven Heinz, Chris BennerHarm Van Bakel, Christopher Basler, Adolfo García-Sastre, Alexander Bukreyev, Ivan Marazzi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

119 Scopus citations

Abstract

The host innate immune response is the first line of defense against pathogens and is orchestrated by the concerted expression of genes induced by microbial stimuli. Deregulated expression of these genes is linked to the initiation and progression of diseases associated with exacerbated inflammation. We identified topoisomerase 1 (Top1) as a positive regulator of RNA polymerase II transcriptional activity at pathogen-induced genes. Depletion or chemical inhibition of Top1 suppresses the host response against influenza and Ebola viruses as well as bacterial products. Therapeutic pharmacological inhibition of Top1 protected mice from death in experimental models of lethal inflammation. Our results indicate that Top1 inhibition could be used as therapy against life-threatening infections characterized by an acutely exacerbated immune response.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number7993
JournalScience
Volume352
Issue number6289
DOIs
StatePublished - May 27 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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