Cited by 182Phagocytosis and Immune RegulationImmune Response and InflammationImmune cells in cancer

Blocking elevated p38 MAPK restores efferocytosis and inflammatory resolution in the elderly

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De Maeyer, Roel P. H., van de Merwe, Rachel C., Louie, Rikah, Bracken, Olivia V., Devine, Oliver P., Goldstein, Daniel R., Uddin, Mohib, Akbar, Arne N. +1 more·2020·Nature Immunology

Abstract

Increasing age alters innate immune-mediated responses; however, the mechanisms underpinning these changes in humans are not fully understood. Using a human dermal model of acute inflammation, we found that, although inflammatory onset is similar between young and elderly individuals, the resolution phase was substantially impaired in elderly individuals. This arose from a reduction in T cell immunoglobulin mucin receptor-4 (TIM-4), a phosphatidylserine receptor expressed on macrophages that enables the engulfment of apoptotic bodies, so-called efferocytosis. Reduced TIM-4 in elderly individuals was caused by an elevation in macrophage p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity. Administering an orally active p38 inhibitor to elderly individuals rescued TIM-4 expression, cleared apoptotic bodies and restored a macrophage resolution phenotype. Thus, inhibiting p38 in elderly individuals rejuvenated their resolution response to be more similar to that of younger people. This is the first resolution defect identified in humans that has been successfully reversed, thereby highlighting the tractability of targeting pro-resolution biology to treat diseases driven by chronic inflammation.

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  • A failure of inflammatory resolution may underlie chronic inflammation in aged people.

    “Ultimately this kind of mechanism, of failed resolution, might underlie chronic inflammation such as that seen in aged people (33).”

    From The impact of ageing on monocytes and macrophages (2021) · cites this paper as [33]

  • Monocytes and macrophages could not engulf apoptotic immune cells after an inflammatory insult.

    “Mononuclear phagocytes, consisting of monocytes and macrophages, were unable to engulf apoptotic immune cells following an inflammatory insult.”

    From The impact of ageing on monocytes and macrophages (2021) · cites this paper as [33]

  • This impaired resolution results from lower TIM-4 expression and a consequent failure to phagocytose apoptotic neutrophils, compared with younger monocytes.

    “This defect in resolution was due to lower expression of expression of T cell immunoglobulin mucin receptor-4 (TIM-4), a receptor that recognizes apoptotic cells, and a subsequent failure to phagocytose apoptotic neutrophils as compared to younger monocytes (33).”

    From The impact of ageing on monocytes and macrophages (2021) · cites this paper as [33]

  • This reversal identifies a therapeutic target for improving monocyte function in older people.

    “and thus identifies a therapeutic target for improving monocyte function in older people (33).”

    From The impact of ageing on monocytes and macrophages (2021) · cites this paper as [33]

  • The resolution defect in older adults can be reversed by pre-treatment with the p38-MAP kinase inhibitor Losmapimod.

    “Interestingly this defect in resolution in the old could be reversed by pre-treatment with a p38-MAP Kinase inhibitor (Losmapimod)”

    From The impact of ageing on monocytes and macrophages (2021) · cites this paper as [33]

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Authors
De Maeyer, R. P. H., van de Merwe, R. C., Louie, R., Bracken, O. V., Devine, O. P., Goldstein, D. R., Uddin, M., Akbar, A. N., & Gilroy, D. W.
Affiliations
  • University College London (GB)
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • AstraZeneca (Sweden) (SE)
Corresponding author
Gilroy, Derek W.
Venue
Nature Immunology
Published
2020-04-06
Volume
21
Issue
6
Pages
615-625
ISSN
  • 1529-2908 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2916
OpenAlex
W3014659762
Cited by
182
References
71
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 15
FWCI
7.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Immunology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
RCUK | Medical Research Council (MR/J006610/1, MR/M003833/1)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Phagocytosis and Immune Regulation
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune Response and Inflammation
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune cells in cancer
Keywords
p38 MAPK, efferocytosis, inflammation resolution, TIM-4, macrophages, aging, phosphatidylserine receptor, chronic inflammation, innate immunity
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Aged, Animals, Blister, Cantharidin, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Inflammation, Macrophages, Male, Membrane Proteins, Neutrophils, Phagocytosis, Receptors, Cell Surface, Signal Transduction, Gene Expression, Apoptosis, p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

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