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AlBloushi S, Al-Ahmad M. Exploring the immunopathology of type 2 inflammatory airway diseases. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1285598. [PMID: 38680486 PMCID: PMC11045947 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1285598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Significant advancements have been achieved in understanding the roles of different immune cells, as well as cytokines and chemokines, in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic airway conditions. This review examines the pathogenesis of Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP), marked by complex immune dysregulation, with major contributions from type 2 inflammation and dysfunctional airway epithelium. The presence of eosinophils and the role of T-cell subsets, particularly an imbalance between Treg and Th17 cells, are crucial to the disease's pathogenesis. The review also investigates the pathogenesis of eosinophilic asthma, a unique asthma subtype. It is characterized by inflammation and high eosinophil levels, with eosinophils playing a pivotal role in triggering type 2 inflammation. The immune response involves Th2 cells, eosinophils, and IgE, among others, all activated by genetic and environmental factors. The intricate interplay among these elements, chemokines, and innate lymphoid cells results in airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness, contributing to the pathogenesis of eosinophilic asthma. Another scope of this review is the pathogenesis of Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA); a complex inflammatory disease that commonly affects the respiratory tract and small to medium-sized blood vessels. It is characterized by elevated eosinophil levels in blood and tissues. The pathogenesis involves the activation of adaptive immune responses by antigens leading to T and B cell activation and eosinophil stimulation, which causes tissue and vessel damage. On the other hand, Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) is a hypersensitive response that occurs when the airways become colonized by aspergillus fungus, with the pathogenesis involving activation of Th2 immune responses, production of IgE antibodies, and eosinophilic action leading to bronchial inflammation and subsequent lung damage. This analysis scrutinizes how an imbalanced immune system contributes to these eosinophilic diseases. The understanding derived from this assessment can steer researchers toward designing new potential therapeutic targets for efficient control of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mona Al-Ahmad
- Al-Rashed Allergy Center, Ministry of Health, Kuwait City, Kuwait
- Microbiology Department, College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
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2
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Hizawa N. Common Pathogeneses Underlying Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease -Insights from Genetic Studies. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2024; 19:633-642. [PMID: 38464563 PMCID: PMC10922945 DOI: 10.2147/copd.s441992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Neither asthma nor chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a single disease consisting of a uniform pathogenesis; rather, they are both syndromes that result from a variety of basic distinct pathogeneses. Many of the basic pathogeneses overlap between the two diseases, and multiple basic pathogeneses are simultaneously involved at varying proportions in individual patients. The specific combination of different basic pathogeneses in each patient determines the phenotype of the patient, and it varies widely from patient to patient. For example, type 2 airway inflammation and neutrophilic airway inflammation may coexist in the same patient, and quite a few patients have clinical characteristics of both asthma and COPD. Even in the same patient, the contribution of each pathogenesis is expected to differ at different life stages (eg, childhood, adolescence, middle age, and older), during different seasons (eg, high seasons for hay fever and rhinovirus infection), and depending on the nature of treatments. This review describes several basic pathogeneses commonly involved in both asthma and COPD, including chronic non-type 2 inflammation, type 2 inflammation, viral infections, and lung development. Understanding of the basic molecular pathogeneses in individual patients, rather than the use of clinical diagnosis, such as asthma, COPD, or even asthma COPD overlap, will enable us to better deal with the diversity seen in disease states, and lead to optimal treatment practices tailored for each patient with less disease burden, such as drug-induced side effects, and improved prognosis. Furthermore, we can expect to focus on these molecular pathways as new drug discovery targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuyuki Hizawa
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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3
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Skinner MK. Epigenetic biomarkers for disease susceptibility and preventative medicine. Cell Metab 2024; 36:263-277. [PMID: 38176413 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The development of molecular biomarkers for disease makes it possible for preventative medicine approaches to be considered. Therefore, therapeutics, treatments, or clinical management can be used to delay or prevent disease development. The problem with genetic mutations as biomarkers is the low frequency with genome-wide association studies (GWASs), generally at best a 1% association of the patients with the disease. In contrast, epigenetic alterations have a high-frequency association of greater than 90%-95% of individuals with pathology in epigenome-wide association studies (EWASs). A wide variety of human diseases have been shown to have epigenetic biomarkers that are disease specific and that detect pathology susceptibility. This review is focused on the epigenetic biomarkers for disease susceptibility, and it distinct from the large literature on epigenetics of disease etiology or progression. The development of efficient epigenetic biomarkers for disease susceptibility will facilitate a paradigm shift from reactionary medicine to preventative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Skinner
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA.
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4
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Galeana-Cadena D, Gómez-García IA, Lopez-Salinas KG, Irineo-Moreno V, Jiménez-Juárez F, Tapia-García AR, Boyzo-Cortes CA, Matías-Martínez MB, Jiménez-Alvarez L, Zúñiga J, Camarena A. Winds of change a tale of: asthma and microbiome. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1295215. [PMID: 38146448 PMCID: PMC10749662 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1295215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the microbiome in asthma is highlighted, considering its influence on immune responses and its connection to alterations in asthmatic patients. In this context, we review the variables influencing asthma phenotypes from a microbiome perspective and provide insights into the microbiome's role in asthma pathogenesis. Previous cohort studies in patients with asthma have shown that the presence of genera such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, and Bacteroides in the gut microbiome has been associated with protection against the disease. While, the presence of other genera such as Haemophilus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Moraxella in the respiratory microbiome has been implicated in asthma pathogenesis, indicating a potential link between microbial dysbiosis and the development of asthma. Furthermore, respiratory infections have been demonstrated to impact the composition of the upper respiratory tract microbiota, increasing susceptibility to bacterial diseases and potentially triggering asthma exacerbations. By understanding the interplay between the microbiome and asthma, valuable insights into disease mechanisms can be gained, potentially leading to the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Galeana-Cadena
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología y Genética, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Itzel Alejandra Gómez-García
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología y Genética, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Karen Gabriel Lopez-Salinas
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología y Genética, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Valeria Irineo-Moreno
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología y Genética, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Fabiola Jiménez-Juárez
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología y Genética, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alan Rodrigo Tapia-García
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología y Genética, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City, Mexico
- Red de Medicina para la Educación, el Desarrollo y la Investigación Científica de Iztacala, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Carlos Alberto Boyzo-Cortes
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología y Genética, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Melvin Barish Matías-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología y Genética, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luis Jiménez-Alvarez
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología y Genética, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Joaquín Zúñiga
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología y Genética, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Angel Camarena
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología y Genética, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City, Mexico
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Cerqua I, Granato E, Corvino A, Severino B, D’Avino D, Simonelli M, Perissutti E, Scognamiglio A, Mirra D, D’Agostino B, Caliendo G, Rossi A, Cirino G, Motta CM, Roviezzo F. Prednisone-hydrogen sulfide releasing hybrid shows improved therapeutic profile in asthma. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1266934. [PMID: 37900172 PMCID: PMC10602694 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1266934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is emerging as an important potential therapeutic option for respiratory inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of a novel corticosteroid derivative, that is chemically linked to an H2S donor, in managing asthma features. Methods: The effects of prednisone (PS), H2S donor (4-hydroxybenzamide; TBZ), and their combination (PS-TBZ) have been evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro experiments were conducted using lipopolysaccharidestimulated J774 macrophages, while the in vivo experiments utilizing an experimental asthma model. Results: In the in vitro study we found that PS-TBZ exhibited an increased effect compared to the individual parent compounds in modulating the production of inflammatory mediators. TBZ also significantly reduced bronchial contractility and enhanced bronchial relaxation. In the in vivo experiments, where we administered PS, TBZ, or PS-TBZ to ovalbumin-sensitized BALB/c mice, we confirmed that PS-TBZ had a significantly better action in controlling airway hyperreactivity as compared to TBZ or PS alone. Moreover, PS-TBZ was more effective in restoring salbutamol-induced relaxation. The immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in the production of α-SMA and procollagen III, indicating the efficacy of PS-TBZ in controlling airway remodeling. Moreover, PS-TBZ also promoted epithelial repair, recovery of the bronchial and parenchyma structure and inhibited mucin production. Discussion: In conclusion, PS-TBZ offers an important opportunity to optimize the beneficial impact of corticosteroids on asthma features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida Cerqua
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Campania, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Granato
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Campania, Italy
| | - Angela Corvino
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Campania, Italy
| | - Beatrice Severino
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Campania, Italy
| | - Danilo D’Avino
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Campania, Italy
| | - Martina Simonelli
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Campania, Italy
| | - Elisa Perissutti
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Campania, Italy
| | - Antonia Scognamiglio
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Campania, Italy
| | - Davida Mirra
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Campania, Italy
| | - Bruno D’Agostino
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Campania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Caliendo
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Campania, Italy
| | - Antonietta Rossi
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Campania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cirino
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Campania, Italy
| | - Chiara Maria Motta
- Department of Biology, Polytechnic and Basic Sciences School, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Campania, Italy
| | - Fiorentina Roviezzo
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Campania, Italy
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Asai N, Ethridge AD, Fonseca W, Yagi K, Rasky AJ, Morris SB, Falkowski NR, Huang YJ, Huffnagle GB, Lukacs NW. A steroid-resistant cockroach allergen model is associated with lung and cecal microbiome changes. Physiol Rep 2023; 11:e15761. [PMID: 37403414 PMCID: PMC10320043 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of asthma has been partially linked to lung and gut microbiome. We utilized a steroid-resistant chronic model of cockroach antigen-induced (CRA) asthma with corticosteroid (fluticasone) treatment to examine lung and gut microbiome during disease. The pathophysiology assessment demonstrated that mucus and airway hyperresponsiveness were increased in the chronic CRA with no alteration in the fluticasone (Flut)-treated group, demonstrating steroid resistance. Analysis of mRNA from lungs showed no decrease of MUC5AC or Gob5 in the Flut-treated group. Furthermore, flow-cytometry in lung tissue showed eosinophils and neutrophils were not significantly reduced in the Flut-treated group compared to the chronic CRA group. When the microbiome profiles were assessed, data showed that only the Flut-treated animals were significantly different in the gut microbiome. Finally, a functional analysis of cecal microbiome metabolites using PiCRUSt showed several biosynthetic pathways were significantly enriched in the Flut-treated group, with tryptophan pathway verified by ELISA with increased kynurenine in homogenized cecum samples. While the implications of these data are unclear, they may suggest a significant impact of steroid treatment on future disease pathogenesis through microbiome and associated metabolite pathway changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuhiro Asai
- Department of PathologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Alexander D. Ethridge
- Department of PathologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- Immunology Graduate ProgramUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Wendy Fonseca
- Department of PathologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Kazuma Yagi
- Department of PathologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Andrew J. Rasky
- Department of PathologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Susan B. Morris
- Department of PathologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Nicole R. Falkowski
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Medicine, Department of MedicineUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Yvonne J. Huang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Medicine, Department of MedicineUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Gary B. Huffnagle
- Immunology Graduate ProgramUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Medicine, Department of MedicineUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy CenterUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental BiologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Nicholas W. Lukacs
- Department of PathologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- Immunology Graduate ProgramUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy CenterUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
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7
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Pelaia C, Pelaia G, Maglio A, Tinello C, Gallelli L, Lombardo N, Terracciano R, Vatrella A. Pathobiology of Type 2 Inflammation in Asthma and Nasal Polyposis. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12103371. [PMID: 37240477 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12103371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Asthma and nasal polyposis often coexist and are frequently intertwined by tight pathogenic links, mainly consisting of the cellular and molecular pathways underpinning type 2 airway inflammation. The latter is characterized by a structural and functional impairment of the epithelial barrier, associated with the eosinophilic infiltration of both the lower and upper airways, which can be driven by either allergic or non-allergic mechanisms. Type 2 inflammatory changes are predominantly due to the biological actions exerted by interleukins 4 (IL-4), 13 (IL-13), and 5 (IL-5), produced by T helper 2 (Th2) lymphocytes and group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2). In addition to the above cytokines, other proinflammatory mediators involved in the pathobiology of asthma and nasal polyposis include prostaglandin D2 and cysteinyl leukotrienes. Within this context of 'united airway diseases', nasal polyposis encompasses several nosological entities such as chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). Because of the common pathogenic origins of asthma and nasal polyposis, it is not surprising that the more severe forms of both these disorders can be successfully treated by the same biologic drugs, targeting many molecular components (IgE, IL-5 and its receptor, IL-4/IL-13 receptors) of the type 2 inflammatory trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corrado Pelaia
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giulia Pelaia
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Angelantonio Maglio
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84084 Salerno, Italy
| | - Caterina Tinello
- Pediatrics Unit, Provincial Outpatient Center of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Luca Gallelli
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Nicola Lombardo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Rosa Terracciano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vatrella
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84084 Salerno, Italy
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Stikker BS, Hendriks RW, Stadhouders R. Decoding the genetic and epigenetic basis of asthma. Allergy 2023; 78:940-956. [PMID: 36727912 DOI: 10.1111/all.15666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Asthma is a complex and heterogeneous chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. Alongside environmental factors, asthma susceptibility is strongly influenced by genetics. Given its high prevalence and our incomplete understanding of the mechanisms underlying disease susceptibility, asthma is frequently studied in genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which have identified thousands of genetic variants associated with asthma development. Virtually all these genetic variants reside in non-coding genomic regions, which has obscured the functional impact of asthma-associated variants and their translation into disease-relevant mechanisms. Recent advances in genomics technology and epigenetics now offer methods to link genetic variants to gene regulatory elements embedded within non-coding regions, which have started to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the complex (epi)genetics of asthma. Here, we provide an integrated overview of (epi)genetic variants associated with asthma, focusing on efforts to link these disease associations to biological insight into asthma pathophysiology using state-of-the-art genomics methodology. Finally, we provide a perspective as to how decoding the genetic and epigenetic basis of asthma has the potential to transform clinical management of asthma and to predict the risk of asthma development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard S Stikker
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rudi W Hendriks
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ralph Stadhouders
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Integrated Network Pharmacology and Gut Microbiota Analysis to Explore the Mechanism of Sijunzi Decoction Involved in Alleviating Airway Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Asthma. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2023; 2023:1130893. [PMID: 36636604 PMCID: PMC9831717 DOI: 10.1155/2023/1130893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Background Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways with recurrent attacks, which seriously affects the patients' quality of life and even threatens their lives. The disease can even threaten the lives of patients. Sijunzi decoction (SJZD), a classical Chinese medicine formula with a long history of administration, is a basic formula used for the treatment of asthma and demonstrates remarkable efficacy. However, the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. Materials and Methods We aimed to integrate network pharmacology and intestinal flora sequencing analysis to study the mechanism of SJZD in the treatment of allergic asthmatic mice. The active compounds of SJZD and their asthma-related targets were predicted by various databases. We performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses to identify potentially relevant pathways for target genes. Furthermore, the active compound-target and target-signaling pathway network maps were constructed by using Cytoscape 3.8.2. These results were combined with those of the intestinal flora sequencing analysis to study the influence of SJZD on airway inflammation in allergic asthmatic mice. Result We obtained 137 active compounds from SJZD and associated them with 1445 asthma-related targets acquired from the databases. A total of 109 common targets were identified. We visualized active compound-target and target-signaling pathway network maps. The pathological analysis and inflammation score results suggested that SJZD could alleviate airway inflammation in asthmatic mice. Sequencing analysis of intestinal flora showed that SJZD could increase the relevant abundance of beneficial bacterial genus and maintain the balance of the intestinal flora. The core toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway was identified based on network pharmacology analysis, and the important role TLRs play in intestinal flora and organismal immunity was also recognized. The analysis of the correlation between environmental factors and intestinal flora revealed that beneficial bacterial genera were negatively correlated with TLR2 and positively correlated with the TLR7 expression. Furthermore, they were positively correlated with IFN-γ and IL-10 levels and negatively correlated with IL-4 and IL-17 levels. Conclusion SJZD alleviated the airway inflammation state in asthmatic mice. The findings suggest that increasing the relevant abundance of beneficial intestinal bacteria in mice with asthma, regulating intestinal flora, interfering with the level of TLR2 and TLR7 expression to adjust the secretion of inflammatory factors, and alleviating asthmatic airway inflammation may be the possible mechanism involved in the treatment of asthma by SJZD, providing a basis for further studies on SJZD.
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