Unmet needs in respiratory diseases : "You can't know where you are going until you know where you have been"--Anonymous

Validation of a method for the determination of Aderamastat (FP-025) in K2EDTA human plasma by LC-MS/MS

Aderamastat (FP-025) is a small molecule, selective matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-12 inhibitor, under development for respiratory conditions which may include chronic inflammatory airway diseases and pulmonary fibrosis. To support evaluation of the pharmacokinetic parameters of Aderamastat in humans, we developed and validated a high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analytical method for the quantification of Aderamastat in human plasma. This assay was validated in compliance with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Good Laboratory Practice Regulations (GLP) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) guidelines. K2EDTA human plasma samples were spiked with internal standard, processed by liquid-liquid extraction, and analyzed using reversed-phase HPLC with Turbo Ion Spray® MS/MS detection. Separation was done using a chromatographic gradient on 5 µm C6-Phenyl 110 Å, 50*2 mm analytical column at a temperature of 35 °C. The LC-MS/MS bioanalytical method, developed by QPS Taiwan to determine the concentration of Aderamastat in K2EDTA human plasma, was successfully validated with respect to linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, dilution, selectivity, hemolyzed plasma, lipemic plasma, batch size, recovery, matrix effect, and carry-over. These data indicate that the method for determination of Aderamastat concentrations in human K2EDTA plasma can be used in pharmacokinetics studies and subsequent clinical trials with Aderamastat. Authors declare that, this novel data is not published and not under consideration for publication by another journal than this journal. All data will be made available on request.

Interactions between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and epoxide hydrolase 1 play roles in asthma

Asthma, as one of the most common chronic diseases in children and adults, is a consequence of complex gene-environment interactions. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as a group of widespread environmental organic pollutants, are involved in the development, triggering and pathologic changes of asthma. Various previous studies reported the critical roles of PAHs in immune changes, oxidative stress and environment-gene interactions of asthma. EPHX1 (the gene of epoxide hydrolase 1, an enzyme mediating human PAH metabolism) had a possible association with asthma by influencing PAH metabolism. This review summarized that (1) the roles of PAHs in asthma-work as risk factors; (2) the possible mechanisms involved in PAH-related asthma-through immunologic and oxidative stress changes; (3) the interactions between PAHs and EPHX1 involved in asthma-enzymatic activity of epoxide hydrolase 1, which affected by EPHX1 genotypes/SNPs/diplotypes, could influence human PAH metabolism and people's vulnerability to PAH exposure. This review provided a better understanding of the above interactions and underlying mechanisms for asthma which help to raise public's concern on PAH control and develop strategies for individual asthma primary prevention.

Hybrid pulmonary surfactant-coated nanogels mediate efficient in vivo delivery of siRNA to murine alveolar macrophages

The local delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to the lungs may provide a therapeutic solution to a range of pulmonary disorders. Resident alveolar macrophages (rAM) in the bronchoalveolar lumen play a critical role in lung inflammatory responses and therefore constitute a particularly attractive target for siRNA therapeutics. However, achieving efficient gene silencing in the lung while avoiding pulmonary toxicity requires appropriate formulation of siRNA in functional nanocarriers. In this study, we evaluated pulmonary surfactant-coated dextran nanogels for the delivery of siRNA to rAM upon pharyngeal aspiration in BALB/c mice. Both the surfactant-coated and uncoated nanogels achieved high levels of siRNA uptake in rAM, yet only the surfactant-coated formulation could significantly reduce gene expression on the protein level. Surfactant-coated nanogels induced a profound downregulation of target mRNA levels, reaching 70% knockdown with ~1mgkg(-1) siRNA dose. In addition, only mild acute pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine responses were detected one day after nanoparticle aspiration, accompanied by a moderate neutrophil infiltration in the bronchoalveolar lumen. The latter could be substantially reduced by removal of excess surfactant from the formulation. Overall, our hybrid core-shell nanoparticles have demonstrated safe and effective siRNA delivery to rAM, providing a new therapeutic approach for treatment of inflammatory pathologies in the lung.

Communication of Pulmonary Function Test Results: A Survey of Patient's Preferences

Introduction

Physician-patient communication in patients suffering from common chronic respiratory disease should encompass discussion about pulmonary function test (PFT) results, diagnosis, disease education, smoking cessation and optimising inhaler technique. Previous studies have identified that patients with chronic respiratory disease/s often express dissatisfaction about physician communication. Currently there is a paucity of data regarding patient awareness of their PFT results (among those who have undergone PFTs previously) or patient preferences about PFT result communication.

Methods

We undertook a three-month prospective study on outpatients referred to two Pulmonary Function Laboratories. If subjects had undergone PFTs previously, the awareness of their previous test results was evaluated. All subjects were asked about their preferences for PFT result communication. Subjects were determined to have chronic respiratory disease based on their past medical history.

Results

300 subjects (50% male) with a median age (±SD) of 65 (±14) years participated in the study. 99% of the study participants stated that they were at least moderately interested in knowing their PFT results. 72% (217/300) of the subjects had undergone at least one PFT in the past, 48% of whom stated they had not been made aware of their results. Fewer subjects with chronic respiratory disease preferred that only a doctor discuss their PFT results with them (28% vs. 41%, p = 0.021).

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that while almost all subjects want to be informed of their PFT results, this does not occur in a large number of patients. Many subjects are agreeable for their PFT results to be communicated to them by clinicians other than doctors. Further research is required to develop an efficient method of conveying PFT results that will improve patient satisfaction and health outcomes.

Bio-inspired pulmonary surfactant-modified nanogels: A promising siRNA delivery system

Inhalation therapy with small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a promising approach in the treatment of pulmonary disorders. However, clinical translation is severely limited by the lack of suitable delivery platforms. In this study, we aim to address this limitation by designing a novel bioinspired hybrid nanoparticle with a core-shell nanoarchitecture, consisting of a siRNA-loaded dextran nanogel (siNG) core and a pulmonary surfactant (Curosurf®) outer shell. The decoration of siNGs with a surfactant shell enhances the colloidal stability and prevents siRNA release in the presence of competing polyanions, which are abundantly present in biofluids. Additionally, the impact of the surfactant shell on the biological efficacy of the siNGs is determined in lung cancer cells. The presence of the surfactants substantially reduces the cellular uptake of siNGs. Remarkably, the lowered intracellular dose does not impede the gene silencing effect, suggesting a crucial role of the pulmonary surfactant in the intracellular processing of the nanoparticles. In order to surmount the observed reduction in cellular dose, folate is incorporated as a targeting ligand in the pulmonary surfactant shell to incite receptor-mediated endocytosis. The latter substantially enhances both cellular uptake and gene silencing potential, achieving efficient knockdown at siRNA concentrations in the low nanomolar range.