The integrated stress response promotes macrophage inflammation and migration in autoimmune diabetes

Abstract Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells. Macrophages infiltrate islets early in T1D pathogenesis, preceding the influx of T- and B-lymphocytes. The integrated stress response (ISR), a cellular pathway activated...

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Main Authors: Jiayi E. Wang, Charanya Muralidharan, Armando A. Puente, Titli Nargis, Jacob R. Enriquez, Ryan M. Anderson, Raghavendra G. Mirmira, Sarah A. Tersey
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:Cell Communication and Signaling
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-025-02372-z
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author Jiayi E. Wang
Charanya Muralidharan
Armando A. Puente
Titli Nargis
Jacob R. Enriquez
Ryan M. Anderson
Raghavendra G. Mirmira
Sarah A. Tersey
author_facet Jiayi E. Wang
Charanya Muralidharan
Armando A. Puente
Titli Nargis
Jacob R. Enriquez
Ryan M. Anderson
Raghavendra G. Mirmira
Sarah A. Tersey
author_sort Jiayi E. Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells. Macrophages infiltrate islets early in T1D pathogenesis, preceding the influx of T- and B-lymphocytes. The integrated stress response (ISR), a cellular pathway activated during stress, coordinates adaptive changes in gene expression to maintain cell function and survival. To study the ISR in macrophages, bone-marrow-derived macrophages were treated with a pharmacological inhibitor of the ISR (ISRIB) and polarized to a proinflammatory M1-like state. We observed a reduction in the number of proinflammatory macrophages, as well as a decrease in iNOS mRNA and protein levels, following ISRIB treatment. RNA-sequencing revealed a reduction in pathways related to stress responses, including ER stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulation, and autophagy, as well as migration pathway genes. ISRIB treatment led to decreased macrophage migration after stimulation in vitro and reduced migration of macrophages to the site of injury after tailfin injury in zebrafish in vivo. Interestingly, ISRIB mediated reduction of M1-like macrophages and reduction of migration was recapitulated by the inhibition of PKR but not PERK, both upstream ISR kinases, highlighting PKR as a key mediator of the ISR in macrophages. Pre-diabetic female non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice administered ISRIB demonstrated an overall reduction in the macrophage numbers in the pancreatic islets. Additionally, the insulitic area of pancreata from ISRIB treated NOD mice had increased PD-L1 levels. PD-L1 protein but not mRNA levels were increased in M1-like macrophages after ISR and PKR inhibition. Our findings identify the ISR, particularly via PKR, as a critical regulator of macrophage driven inflammation and migration in T1D. Our study offers new insights into ISR signaling in macrophages, demonstrating that the ISR may serve as a potential target for intervention in macrophages during early T1D pathogenesis.
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spelling doaj-art-9d348033f1c5452a9f5301a10c445bef2025-08-24T11:41:05ZengBMCCell Communication and Signaling1478-811X2025-08-0123111710.1186/s12964-025-02372-zThe integrated stress response promotes macrophage inflammation and migration in autoimmune diabetesJiayi E. Wang0Charanya Muralidharan1Armando A. Puente2Titli Nargis3Jacob R. Enriquez4Ryan M. Anderson5Raghavendra G. Mirmira6Sarah A. Tersey7Department of Medicine and the Kovler Diabetes Center, The University of ChicagoDepartment of Medicine and the Kovler Diabetes Center, The University of ChicagoDepartment of Medicine and the Kovler Diabetes Center, The University of ChicagoDepartment of Medicine and the Kovler Diabetes Center, The University of ChicagoDepartment of Medicine and the Kovler Diabetes Center, The University of ChicagoDepartment of Medicine and the Kovler Diabetes Center, The University of ChicagoDepartment of Medicine and the Kovler Diabetes Center, The University of ChicagoDepartment of Medicine and the Kovler Diabetes Center, The University of ChicagoAbstract Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells. Macrophages infiltrate islets early in T1D pathogenesis, preceding the influx of T- and B-lymphocytes. The integrated stress response (ISR), a cellular pathway activated during stress, coordinates adaptive changes in gene expression to maintain cell function and survival. To study the ISR in macrophages, bone-marrow-derived macrophages were treated with a pharmacological inhibitor of the ISR (ISRIB) and polarized to a proinflammatory M1-like state. We observed a reduction in the number of proinflammatory macrophages, as well as a decrease in iNOS mRNA and protein levels, following ISRIB treatment. RNA-sequencing revealed a reduction in pathways related to stress responses, including ER stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulation, and autophagy, as well as migration pathway genes. ISRIB treatment led to decreased macrophage migration after stimulation in vitro and reduced migration of macrophages to the site of injury after tailfin injury in zebrafish in vivo. Interestingly, ISRIB mediated reduction of M1-like macrophages and reduction of migration was recapitulated by the inhibition of PKR but not PERK, both upstream ISR kinases, highlighting PKR as a key mediator of the ISR in macrophages. Pre-diabetic female non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice administered ISRIB demonstrated an overall reduction in the macrophage numbers in the pancreatic islets. Additionally, the insulitic area of pancreata from ISRIB treated NOD mice had increased PD-L1 levels. PD-L1 protein but not mRNA levels were increased in M1-like macrophages after ISR and PKR inhibition. Our findings identify the ISR, particularly via PKR, as a critical regulator of macrophage driven inflammation and migration in T1D. Our study offers new insights into ISR signaling in macrophages, demonstrating that the ISR may serve as a potential target for intervention in macrophages during early T1D pathogenesis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-025-02372-zUnfolded protein response (UPR)InflammationMacrophagesDiabetesPancreatic isletMigration
spellingShingle Jiayi E. Wang
Charanya Muralidharan
Armando A. Puente
Titli Nargis
Jacob R. Enriquez
Ryan M. Anderson
Raghavendra G. Mirmira
Sarah A. Tersey
The integrated stress response promotes macrophage inflammation and migration in autoimmune diabetes
Cell Communication and Signaling
Unfolded protein response (UPR)
Inflammation
Macrophages
Diabetes
Pancreatic islet
Migration
title The integrated stress response promotes macrophage inflammation and migration in autoimmune diabetes
title_full The integrated stress response promotes macrophage inflammation and migration in autoimmune diabetes
title_fullStr The integrated stress response promotes macrophage inflammation and migration in autoimmune diabetes
title_full_unstemmed The integrated stress response promotes macrophage inflammation and migration in autoimmune diabetes
title_short The integrated stress response promotes macrophage inflammation and migration in autoimmune diabetes
title_sort integrated stress response promotes macrophage inflammation and migration in autoimmune diabetes
topic Unfolded protein response (UPR)
Inflammation
Macrophages
Diabetes
Pancreatic islet
Migration
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-025-02372-z
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