Vitamin-D ameliorates sepsis-induced acute lung injury via augmenting miR-149-5p and downregulating ER stress

Vitexin mitigates oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, pyroptosis and regulates small nucleolar RNA host gene 1/DNA methyltransferase 1/microRNA-495 axis in sepsis-associated acute lung injury

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study examined vitexin's effect on sepsis-induced acute lung injury. We used network pharmacology and in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to elucidate vitexin's role in preventing pyroptosis and regulating small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1)/DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1)/microRNA-495 (miR-495 axis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We developed an acute lung injury model using C57BL/6 mice and MLE-12 cells. Through a combination of network pharmacology and in vitro screening, vitexin was identified as the most promising anti-inflammatory compound. Multiple techniques such as western blotting, real-time PCR, Hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, and TUNEL assay were used. Additionally, immunofluorescence, DCFDA and TMRE staining, flow cytometry, methylation-specific PCR, and gene transfection techniques were performed to elucidate vitexin's potential targets and underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS

Vitexin treatment significantly reduced lung damage, neutrophil infiltration, and inflammation while improving tight junction integrity. In LPS-treated RAW264.7 macrophages and a septic mouse BALF-induced MLE-12 cell injury model, vitexin demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects, promoted M2 macrophage polarization, and enhanced regenerative markers. It also decreased oxidative stress, mitigated apoptosis and pyroptosis, and improved mitochondrial function. Our research uncovered a novel epigenetic regulatory mechanism involving lncRNA SNHG1, DNMT1, and miR-495.

CONCLUSION

Vitexin's ability to reduce inflammation, counteract oxidative stress, and modulate epigenetic processes. These findings underscore the promising role of vitexin as a treatment for ALI generated by sepsis. The SNHG1/miR-495 axis, which has been identified, represents a new target for future therapies in acute lung injury.

Vitamin D promotes autophagy to inhibit LPS-induced lung injury via targeting cathepsin D

Pneumonia is a frequent-occurring event in children death. Vitamin D (VD) can alleviate inflammatory response and it might be a promising adjunct to antibiotics for the treatment of acute childhood pneumonia. This study intended to uncover the relevant mechanism of VD in pneumonia. For simulating inflammatory condition, BEAS-2B cells were induced using lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cell viability was detected using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method, and cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry and western blot. Inflammatory cytokines as well as oxidative stress markers were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and corresponding assays. Western blot evaluated the contents of cathepsin D (CTSD), apoptosis- and autophagy-related proteins. Through real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot, the transfection efficiency of overexpression (OV)-CTSD was detected. Immunofluorescence assay detected light chain 3 (LC3II) level. Through SuperPred database analysis, VD can target CTSD. VD was revealed to suppress viability damage, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and autophagy injury in BEAS-2B cells induced by LPS via targeting CTSD. However, the protective effects exhibited by VD against LPS-induced viability damage, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress in BEAS-2B cells were all counteracted by autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Collectively, VD alleviated the severity of LPS-induced lung injury by promoting autophagy through targeting CTSD.

Relationship between Chlamydia Trachomatis infection, infertility, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2013-2016

BACKGROUND

Chlamydia trachomatis is a common sexually transmitted disease that is associated with considerable morbidity and harmful sequelae, including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. Strategies for prevention and treatment of infertility in women with C. trachomatis infection require further investigation. There is evidence suggesting that vitamin D could be a potential treatment. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, chlamydia seropositivity, and the risk of infertility in women.

METHODS

We conducted this cross-sectional study using 2013-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Women aged 18-39 years with complete serum 25(OH)D and chlamydia Pgp3Ab multiplex bead/enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay data available were included. The correlation between 25(OH)D level, chlamydia seropositivity, and infertility was evaluated using the weighted chi-squared test and the t-test with multivariate logistic regression and moderation effect models.

RESULTS

Among the 1424 women who met our eligibility criteria, the weighted chlamydia seropositivity rate was 36.8%. The 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in the seropositive group compared with seronegative control. (P = 0.009). After adjusting for ethnicity, the effect of 25(OH)D was no longer significant (P = 0.693). Further analysis in the chlamydia-seropositive subset revealed that the vitamin D level was lower in the infertile group (P = 0.024). In an interaction model, 25(OH)D was found to antagonizes the positive relationship between chlamydia and infertility (OR = 0.985, 95% CI: 0.971-0.999, P = 0.040).

CONCLUSION

The serum vitamin D level may be more related to the prognosis in terms of infertility than to the risk of chlamydia infection. This finding may reveal a possible treatment strategy for chlamydia infection.

Boric Acid Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice

Acute lung injury (ALI) poses a significant medical challenge due to its widespread occurrence and high mortality rates. Despite extensive efforts, current clinical interventions for ALI have shown limited success. Inflammation plays a central role within ALI progress, and boric acid (BA) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties both in vitro and in vivo. However, its potential to mitigate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI remains an area awaiting exploration in research. To bridge this research gap, we created a mouse model of ALI induced by intraperitoneal LPS injection. We employed a comprehensive set of evaluation criteria, including H&E staining, wet/dry ratio measurement, malondialdehyde (MDA)/superoxide dismutase (SOD) the oxidative stress-related biomarkers, assessment of alveolar edema, hemorrhage, inflammatory cell infiltration, and examination of thickened alveolar septum to quantify lung injury. Additionally, we measured inflammatory cytokine levels using ELISA and assessed Nrf2 and HO-1 expressions through western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR). ER stress-related markers (GRP78, CHOP) were analyzed through western blot analysis. Our findings revealed that prophylactic treatment with BA effectively attenuated LPS-induced ALI, as supported by improved pathological alterations, decreased total protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and reduced pulmonary edema. Furthermore, BA exhibited anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing inflammatory cytokines within the lung tissue. BA ingestion caused upregulation in SOD and a decrease in MDA contents in lung tissue homogenates. BA downregulated the levels of GRP78 and CHOP compared to the LPS group. Remarkably, BA also upregulated transcription and protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 compared to the LPS group. In conclusion, our study highlights BA's potential as a novel promising prophylactic agent for LPS-induced ALI, offering avenue for improving clinical management of this condition.

Signaling pathways and potential therapeutic targets in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common condition associated with critically ill patients, characterized by bilateral chest radiographical opacities with refractory hypoxemia due to noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. Despite significant advances, the mortality of ARDS remains unacceptably high, and there are still no effective targeted pharmacotherapeutic agents. With the outbreak of coronavirus disease 19 worldwide, the mortality of ARDS has increased correspondingly. Comprehending the pathophysiology and the underlying molecular mechanisms of ARDS may thus be essential to developing effective therapeutic strategies and reducing mortality. To facilitate further understanding of its pathogenesis and exploring novel therapeutics, this review provides comprehensive information of ARDS from pathophysiology to molecular mechanisms and presents targeted therapeutics. We first describe the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of ARDS that involve dysregulated inflammation, alveolar-capillary barrier dysfunction, impaired alveolar fluid clearance and oxidative stress. Next, we summarize the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways related to the above four aspects of ARDS pathophysiology, along with the latest research progress. Finally, we discuss the emerging therapeutic strategies that show exciting promise in ARDS, including several pharmacologic therapies, microRNA-based therapies and mesenchymal stromal cell therapies, highlighting the pathophysiological basis and the influences on signal transduction pathways for their use.

From genes to systems: The role of food supplementation in the regulation of sepsis-induced inflammation

Systemic inflammation includes a widespread immune response to a harmful stimulus that results in extensive systemic damage. One common example of systemic inflammation is sepsis, which is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Under the pro-inflammatory environment of sepsis, oxidative stress contributes to tissue damage due to dysfunctional microcirculation that progressively causes the failure of multiple organs that ultimately triggers death. To address the underlying inflammatory condition in critically ill patients, progress has been made to assess the beneficial effects of dietary supplements, which include polyphenols, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that are recognized for their immuno-modulating, anticoagulating, and analgesic properties. Therefore, we aimed to review and discuss the contribution of food-derived supplementation in the regulation of inflammation from gene expression to physiological responses and summarize the precedented potential of current therapeutic approaches during systemic inflammation.

Vitamin D may assist the UPR against sodium fluoride-induced damage by reducing RIPK1, ATG5, BECN1, oxidative stress and increasing caspase-3 in the osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cell line

BACKGROUND

Out of all measure systemic exposure to fluorides can cause defect of skeletal and dental fluorosis. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is caused by fluorine-induced oxidative stress and importance of vitamin D in its prevention is not known enough in bone cells. This study was carried out to investigate fluorine-induced oxidative stress, ER stress, and death pathways and the effect of vitamin D on them.

METHODS

MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblast cell line was used as the material of the study. The NaF and vitamin D concentrations were determined by the MTT assay. NaF treatments and vitamin D supplementation (pre-add, co-add, and post-add) was administered in the cell line at 24th and 48th hours. The expression of the genes in oxidative stress, ER stress, and death pathways was determined using RT-qPCR and Western blotting techniques.

RESULTS

Vitamin D significantly reduced mRNA expression levels of SOD2, CYGB, ATF6, PERK, IRE1, ATG5 and BECN1 whereas caused an increase in levels GPX1, SOD1, NOS2 and Caspase-3 in MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblast cell line of NaF-induced. In addition, GPX1, SOD1, ATF6, PERK, IRE1, BECN1, Caspase-3 and RIPK1 protein levels were examined by Western blot analysis, and it was determined that vitamin D decreased IRE1 and PERK protein levels, but increased GPX1, SOD1, ATF6 and Caspase-3 protein levels.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the study suggest that vitamin D has protective potential against NaF-induced cytotoxicity reasonably through the attenuation of oxidative stress, ER stress, ATG5, IRE1 and by increasesing caspase-3 in vitro conditions.

Fibroblast Upregulation of Vitamin D Receptor Represents a Self-Protective Response to Limit Fibroblast Proliferation and Activation during Pulmonary Fibrosis

Dysregulation of vitamin D receptor (VDR) is implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, whether VDR dysregulation contributes to the development of pulmonary fibrosis remains largely unknown. Analysis of bulk and single-cell RNA profiling datasets revealed VDR upregulation in lung fibroblasts from patients with pulmonary fibrosis or fibrotic mice, which was validated in lung fibroblasts from bleomycin-exposed mice and bleomycin-treated fibroblasts. Stable VDR knockdown promoted, whereas the VDR agonist paricalcitol suppressed lung fibroblast proliferation and activation. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that the JAK/STAT pathway and unfolded protein response (UPR), a process related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, were enriched in lung fibroblasts of fibrotic lungs. Stable VDR knockdown stimulated, but paricalcitol suppressed ER stress and JAK1/STAT3 activation in lung fibroblasts. The STAT3 inhibitor blocked bleomycin- or stable VDR knockdown-induced ER stress. Paricalcitol inhibited the bleomycin-induced enrichment of STAT3 to the ATF6 promoter, thereby suppressing ATF6 expression in fibroblasts. Paricalcitol or intrapulmonary VDR overexpression inactivated JAK1/STAT3 and suppressed ER stress in bleomycin-treated mice, thus resulting in the inhibition of fibroblast proliferation and activation. Collectively, this study suggests that fibroblast VDR upregulation may be a self-protective response to limit fibroblast proliferation and activation during pulmonary fibrosis by suppressing the JAK1/STAT3/ER stress pathway.

Vitamin D Supplementation during Intensive Care Unit Stay Is Associated with Improved Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients with Sepsis: A Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D, as a common micronutrient, has been widely used in critically ill patients. However, whether supplementation of vitamin D in adult patients with sepsis can improve their prognosis remains controversial.

METHODS

Data from the Mart for Intensive Care IV database was used in this retrospective cohort study, and adult patients with sepsis were enrolled. Critically ill patients, admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) between 2008 and 2019 at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), were divided into the vitamin D supplementation group and non-vitamin D supplementation group. The primary outcomes were defined as all-cause in-hospital, 28-day, and 90-day mortality rates after admission to the ICU. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), and overlap weighting (OW) analyses were used to minimize selection bias and balance the baseline demographic characteristics. Regression and survival analyses were performed to assess the association between vitamin D supplementation and clinical outcomes in patients with sepsis.

RESULTS

In total, 3539 patients with sepsis were enrolled as study participants; of these, 315 were supplemented with vitamin D during their ICU stay. In-hospital, 28-day, and 90-day mortality rates were significantly lower in patients with sepsis supplemented with vitamin D. Multivariate regression analysis showed vitamin D supplementation as a potential protective factor for in-hospital mortality with an odds ratio (OR) = 0.70 (0.51-0.96) after adjusting for all confounders. The hazard ratios (HRs) for 28-day and 90-day mortality were 0.65 (0.50-0.85) and 0.70 (0.55-0.90), respectively. The survival analysis showed that the vitamin D supplementation group had a higher survival probability within 28 and 90 days (p-value < 0.05). These results remained relatively stable post PSM, IPTW, and OW. However, we found no evidence that vitamin D supplementation could shorten the length of stay in the ICU or hospital.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D supplementation during an ICU stay was associated with improved prognosis in patients with sepsis, as evidenced by lower in-hospital, 28-day, and 90-day mortality rates and lower disease severity-related scores, but showed no influence on the length of stay in the hospital or ICU.

Regulation of Pro-Inflammatory Macrophage Polarization via Lipid Nanoparticles Mediated Delivery of Anti-Prostaglandin-E2 siRNA

Pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization is crucial in acute inflammatory diseases like Acute lung injury (ALI), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is believed to promote inflammation in such cases. Therefore, our study aimed to deliver anti-prostaglandin E synthase 2 small interfering RNA antibodies (anti-PGE2-siRNA) through lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) in RAW264.7 (The murine macrophage cell line) to find a possible cure to the acute inflammatory diseases. LNPs were synthesized by using thin layer evaporation method and were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), Zeta potential, SEM and TEM analysis. The obtained NPs were spherical with an average size of 73 nm and zeta potential +29mV. MTT assay revealed that these NPs were non-toxic in nature. Gel retardation assay displayed 5:2 ratio of siRNA and NPs as the best siRNA:LNPs ratio for the delivery of siRNA into cells. After siRNA delivery by using LNPs, real time gene expression analysis revealed significant decrease in the expression of PGE2. Western blot results confirmed that silencing of PGE2 gene influence inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and interlukin-1β (1L-1β), markers involved in pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization. Our study revealed that LNPs synthesized in present study can be one of the effective methods to deliver anti-PGE2-siRNA to control pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization for the treatment of acute inflammatory response.