Rationale: Macrophage phagocytosis is essential for pathogen clearance during sepsis. We previously demonstrated that the glycolytic enzyme 6-phosphofructokinase, muscle type (PFKM), modulates macrophage functions and its deficiency alleviates sepsis in mice. However, the function of PFKM in regulating macrophage phagocytosis remains unclear. Methods: CD14 + monocytes were sorted by flow cytometry from healthy volunteers and septic patients, and the subcellular localization of PFKM was assessed by immunofluorescence. Nuclear translocation mechanisms and PFKM-p53 interaction were identified by Co-immunoprecipitation coupled with mass spectrometry (Co-IP/MS) and validated by Co-IP. Transcriptomic sequencing was used to identify the downstream target of the PFKM-p53 complex. Inflammatory cytokine levels were detected by ELISA and real-time RT-PCR, and the phagocytosis of macrophages was assessed by flow cytometry. Dual-luciferase reporter assays and ChIP were employed to investigate whether PFKM acts as a co-regulator of p53 in mediating Pdcd1 transcription. Nanobodies targeting PFKM-p53 were screened and subsequently synthesized according to the sequences. The effect of nuclear PFKM and the therapeutic effect of nanobodies were evaluated on the well-established sepsis mouse models induced by Escherichia coli or cecal ligation and puncture. Results: PFKM translocated to the macrophage nucleus during sepsis. Nuclear accumulation of PFKM impaired phagocytosis through a non-glycolytic “moonlighting” function and exacerbated sepsis. Mechanistically, PFKM interacts with p53, which facilitates its nuclear translocation. Subsequently, PFKM promotes p53 acetylation at K120, enhancing p53 binding to the Pdcd1 promoter and driving its transcription, thereby suppressing macrophage phagocytosis. Blocking the PFKM-p53 interaction with a nanobody, Nb07, restored phagocytosis of macrophages and alleviated sepsis in mice. Conclusion: Our data reveal the PFKM-p53-PD-1 axis that suppresses macrophage phagocytosis in sepsis and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting this pathway with nanobody-based strategies.
Hongmei Chang,Siqi Zhao,Yuzhu Lei,Yunhua Hu,Yizhong Yan,Guanling Song
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO 2 ) can cause a reduction in sperm counts, and lactate production in Sertoli cells plays a key role in spermatogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nano-TiO 2 on lactate production in mouse Sertoli cell line (TM4 cells) and to investigate whether the effect is mediated through the PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α pathway. After TM4 cells were treated with different concentrations of nano-TiO 2 for 48 h, cell viability, contents of glucose and lactate, and the expression levels of GLUT3 and key enzymes (HK1, HK2, PFKM, ENO1, LDH) during lactate production were detected. PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α pathway proteins were measured. In addition, PI3K agonist (IGF-1) was added to explore whether nano-TiO 2 regulates HIF-1α through PI3K/AKT pathway, thereby affecting the production of lactate in TM4 cells. The results showed that nano-TiO 2 significantly inhibited TM4 cell viability, increased glucose content, decreased lactate content, and downregulated the expression levels of GLUT3 and key enzymes during lactate production. Meanwhile, nano-TiO 2 decreased the expression of PI3K/AKT pathway phosphorylated proteins and HIF-1α, and IGF attenuated this effect of nano-TiO 2 . Collectively, nano-TiO 2 downregulated the expression level of proteins and enzymes related to lactate production in TM4 cells by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α pathway, resulting in the decrease of lactate production in TM4 cells.