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Wang H, Huang M, Zhu M, Su C, Zhang Y, Chen H, Jiang Y, Wang H, Guo Q, Zhang S. Paclitaxel combined with Compound K inducing pyroptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells by regulating Treg/Th17 balance. Chin Med 2024; 19:26. [PMID: 38360696 PMCID: PMC10870689 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-024-00904-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors, which have attracted much attention in recent years, have achieved good efficacy, but their use is limited by the high incidence of acquired drug resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new immunotherapy drugs. Compound taxus chinensis capsule (CTC) is an oral paclitaxel compound drug, clinical results showed it can change the number of regulatory T cells and T helper cell 17 in peripheral blood. Regulating the balance between regulatory T cells and T helper cell 17 is considered to be an effective anticancer strategy. Paclitaxel and ginsenoside metabolite compound K are the main immunomodulatory components, it is not clear that paclitaxel combined with compound K can inhibit tumor development by regulating the balance between regulatory T cell and T helper cell 17. METHODS MTT, EdU proliferation and plate colony formation assay were used to determine the concentration of paclitaxel and compound K. AnnexinV-FITC/PI staining, ELISA, Western Blot assay, Flow Cytometry and Immunofluorescence were used to investigate the effect of paclitaxel combined with compound K on Lewis cell cultured alone or co-cultured with splenic lymphocyte. Finally, transplanted tumor C57BL/6 mice model was constructed to investigate the anti-cancer effect in vivo. RESULTS According to the results of MTT, EdU proliferation and plate colony formation assay, paclitaxel (10 nM) and compound K (60 μM) was used to explore the mechanism. The results of Flow Cytometry demonstrated that paclitaxel combined with compound K increased the number of T helper cell 17 and decreased the number of regulatory T cells, which induced pyroptosis of cancer cells. The balance was mediated by the JAK-STAT pathway according to the results of Western Blot and Immunofluorescence. Finally, the in vivo results showed that paclitaxel combined with compound K significantly inhibit the progression of lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we found that paclitaxel combined with compound K can activate CD8+ T cells and induce pyroptosis of tumor cells by regulating the balance between regulatory T cells and T helper cell 17. These results demonstrated that this is a feasible treatment strategy for lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongzheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengyuan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Chi Su
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 21009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yijian Zhang
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 21009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
- The Fourth Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuexin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Haidi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinglong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 21009, People's Republic of China.
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Alanazi AH, Chastain DB, Rudraraju M, Parvathagiri V, Shan S, Lin X, Henao-Martínez AF, Franco-Paredes C, Narayanan SP, Somanath PR. A multi-arm, parallel, preclinical study investigating the potential benefits of acetazolamide, candesartan, and triciribine in combination with fluconazole for the treatment of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 960:176177. [PMID: 37931839 PMCID: PMC10985624 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176177] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen, primarily infects immunodeficient patients frequently causing cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CM). Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is a serious complication responsible for increased morbidity and mortality in CM patients. Non-invasive pharmacological agents that mitigate ICP could be beneficial in treating CM patients. The objective of the study was to investigate the efficacy of acetazolamide (AZA), candesartan (CAN), and triciribine (TCBN), in combination with the antifungal fluconazole, on C. neoformans-induced endothelial, brain, and lung injury in an experimental mouse model of CM. Our study shows that C. neoformans increases the expression of brain endothelial cell (BEC) junction proteins Claudin-5 (Cldn5) and VE-Cadherin to induce pathological cell-barrier remodeling and gap formation associated with increased Akt and p38 MAPK activation. All three agents inhibited C. neoformans-induced endothelial gap formation, only CAN and TCBN significantly reduced C. neoformans-induced Cldn5 expression, and only TCBN was effective in inhibiting Akt and p38MAPK. Interestingly, although C. neoformans did not cause brain or lung edema in mice, it induced lung and brain injuries, which were significantly reversed by AZA, CAN, or TCBN. Our study provides novel insights into the direct effects of C. neoformans on BECs in vitro, and the potential benefits of using AZA, CAN, or TCBN in the management of CM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulaziz H Alanazi
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30907, USA; Research Department, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, 30901, USA
| | - Daniel B Chastain
- Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, SWGA Clinical Campus, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Albany, GA, 31701, USA
| | - Madhuri Rudraraju
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30907, USA; Research Department, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, 30901, USA
| | - Varun Parvathagiri
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30907, USA; Research Department, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, 30901, USA
| | - Shengshuai Shan
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30907, USA; Research Department, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, 30901, USA
| | - Xiaorong Lin
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Andrés F Henao-Martínez
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Carlos Franco-Paredes
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA; Hospital Infantil de México, Federico Gómez, México City, 06720, Mexico
| | - S Priya Narayanan
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30907, USA; Research Department, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, 30901, USA
| | - Payaningal R Somanath
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30907, USA; Research Department, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, 30901, USA.
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Tiruppathi C, Wang DM, Ansari MO, Bano S, Tsukasaki Y, Mukhopadhyay A, Joshi JC, Loch C, Niessen HWM, Malik AB. Ubiquitin ligase CHFR mediated degradation of VE-cadherin through ubiquitylation disrupts endothelial adherens junctions. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6582. [PMID: 37852964 PMCID: PMC10584835 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42225-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) expressed at endothelial adherens junctions (AJs) is vital for vascular integrity and endothelial homeostasis. Here we identify the requirement of the ubiquitin E3-ligase CHFR as a key mechanism of ubiquitylation-dependent degradation of VE-cadherin. CHFR was essential for disrupting the endothelium through control of the VE-cadherin protein expression at AJs. We observe augmented expression of VE-cadherin in endothelial cell (EC)-restricted Chfr knockout (ChfrΔEC) mice. We also observe abrogation of LPS-induced degradation of VE-cadherin in ChfrΔEC mice, suggesting the pathophysiological relevance of CHFR in regulating the endothelial junctional barrier in inflammation. Lung endothelial barrier breakdown, inflammatory neutrophil extravasation, and mortality induced by LPS were all suppressed in ChfrΔEC mice. We find that the transcription factor FoxO1 is a key upstream regulator of CHFR expression. These findings demonstrate the requisite role of the endothelial cell-expressed E3-ligase CHFR in regulating the expression of VE-cadherin, and thereby endothelial junctional barrier integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinnaswamy Tiruppathi
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine and The Center of Lung and Vascular Biology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Dong-Mei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine and The Center of Lung and Vascular Biology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mohammad Owais Ansari
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine and The Center of Lung and Vascular Biology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Shabana Bano
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine and The Center of Lung and Vascular Biology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yoshikazu Tsukasaki
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine and The Center of Lung and Vascular Biology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Amitabha Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine and The Center of Lung and Vascular Biology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jagdish C Joshi
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine and The Center of Lung and Vascular Biology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Hans W M Niessen
- Department of Pathology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Asrar B Malik
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine and The Center of Lung and Vascular Biology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Jones TW, Almuntashiri S, Chase A, Alhumaid A, Somanath PR, Sikora A, Zhang D. Plasma matrix metalloproteinase-3 predicts mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome: a biomarker analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Respir Res 2023; 24:166. [PMID: 37349704 PMCID: PMC10286483 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02476-5] [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: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) is a proteolytic enzyme involved in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) pathophysiology that may serve as a lung-specific biomarker in ARDS. METHODS This study was a secondary biomarker analysis of a subset of Albuterol for the Treatment of Acute Lung Injury (ALTA) trial patients to determine the prognostic value of MMP-3. Plasma sample MMP-3 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The primary outcome was the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of MMP-3 at day 3 for the prediction of 90-day mortality. RESULTS A total of 100 unique patient samples were evaluated and the AUROC analysis of day three MMP-3 showed an AUROC of 0.77 for the prediction of 90-day mortality (95% confidence interval: 0.67-0.87), corresponding to a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 63% and an optimal cutoff value of 18.4 ng/mL. Patients in the high MMP-3 group (≥ 18.4 ng/mL) showed higher mortality compared to the non-elevated MMP-3 group (< 18.4 ng/mL) (47% vs. 4%, p < 0.001). A positive difference in day zero and day three MMP-3 concentration was predictive of mortality with an AUROC of 0.74 correlating to 73% sensitivity, 81% specificity, and an optimal cutoff value of + 9.5 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS Day three MMP-3 concentration and difference in day zero and three MMP-3 concentrations demonstrated acceptable AUROCs for predicting 90-day mortality with a cut-point of 18.4 ng/mL and + 9.5 ng/mL, respectively. These results suggest a prognostic role of MMP-3 in ARDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy W. Jones
- Department of Pharmacy, Augusta University Medical Center, 1120 15th St., Augusta, GA 30912 USA
- Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, 120 15th Street, HM-117, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
| | - Sultan Almuntashiri
- Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, 120 15th Street, HM-117, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
| | - Aaron Chase
- Department of Pharmacy, Augusta University Medical Center, 1120 15th St., Augusta, GA 30912 USA
- Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, 120 15th Street, HM-117, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
| | - Abdullah Alhumaid
- Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, 120 15th Street, HM-117, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
| | - Payaningal R. Somanath
- Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, 120 15th Street, HM-117, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
| | - Andrea Sikora
- Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, 120 15th Street, HM-117, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
| | - Duo Zhang
- Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, 120 15th Street, HM-117, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
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5
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Shan S, Liu F, Ford E, Caldwell RB, Narayanan SP, Somanath PR. Triciribine attenuates pathological neovascularization and vascular permeability in a mouse model of proliferative retinopathy. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 162:114714. [PMID: 37080089 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Proliferative retinopathies are the leading cause of irreversible blindness in all ages, and there is a critical need to identify novel therapies. We investigated the impact of triciribine (TCBN), a tricyclic nucleoside analog and a weak Akt inhibitor, on retinal neurovascular injury, vascular permeability, and inflammation in oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). Post-natal day 7 (P7) mouse pups were subjected to OIR, and treated (i.p.) with TCBN or vehicle from P14-P16 and compared with age-matched, normoxic, vehicle or TCBN-treated controls. P17 retinas were processed for flat mounts, immunostaining, Western blotting, and qRT-PCR studies. Fluorescein angiography, electroretinography, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography were performed on days P21, P26, and P30, respectively. TCBN treatment significantly reduced pathological neovascularization, vaso-obliteration, and inflammation marked by reduced TNFα, IL6, MCP-1, Iba1, and F4/80 (macrophage/microglia markers) expression compared to the vehicle-treated OIR mouse retinas. Pathological expression of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), and claudin-5 compromised the blood-retinal barrier integrity in the OIR retinas correlating with increased vascular permeability and neovascular tuft formation, which were blunted by TCBN treatment. Of note, there were no changes in the retinal architecture or retinal cell function in response to TCBN in the normoxia or OIR mice. We conclude that TCBN protects against pathological neovascularization, restores blood-retinal barrier homeostasis, and reduces retinal inflammation without adversely affecting the retinal structure and neuronal function in a mouse model of OIR. Our data suggest that TCBN may provide a novel therapeutic option for proliferative retinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengshuai Shan
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA; Research Department, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, 30901, USA; Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA; Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Fang Liu
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA; Research Department, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, 30901, USA; Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA; Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Edith Ford
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Ruth B Caldwell
- Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA; Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - S Priya Narayanan
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA; Research Department, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, 30901, USA; Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA; Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
| | - Payaningal R Somanath
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA; Research Department, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, 30901, USA; Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
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Zhang ML, Wang M, Chen J, Liu YJ, Yu YJ, Liu LM, Zheng XH, Xiao YC, Zhang JM, Zhu MX, Yue X, Zhao Y, Niu W, Li ZC. Isopropyl 3-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxypropanoate protects lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice by attenuating pyroptosis. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 942:175545. [PMID: 36708977 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Isopropyl 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxypropanoate (IDHP) is one of the main bioactive metabolites of the Chinese medicinal herb Danshen, which can be absorbed into blood compounds by oral administration of Compound Danshen dripping pills (CDDPs). Previous study showed that IDHP exerted anti-inflammatory effects by abolishing the secretion of proinflammatory factors stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, the effects of IDHP on LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) are not fully understood. In the present study, we observed the effects of IDHP on mortality and lung injury in LPS-treated mice and on LPS-induced THP-1 macrophages. Pretreatment with high dose of IDHP was found to reduce the mortality of ALI mice, significantly improve LPS-induced pathological changes, and reduce protein leakage and inhibited myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in lung tissue. IDHP also inhibited the release of inflammatory factors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue. Meanwhile, IDHP treatment significantly reduced the expression of active-caspase1, Nlrp3, Asc speck formation, Gsdmd (part of the canonical pyroptosis pathway), caspase4 (part of the non-canonical pyroptosis pathway), therefore decreasing IL-1β, IL-18, and ROS secretion in LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages. Moreover, after co-culturing endothelial/epithelial cells with conditioned medium (CM) from LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages, we found that the protein levels of occludin and Zonula occludens-1 (Zo-1) were increased in IDHP CM-treated endothelial cells compared to those that were LPS CM-treated. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) assay shows that IDHP also alleviated LPS-induced endothelial/epithelial cell injury. These findings indicate that the protective effect of IDHP on LPS-induced lung injury may be partly due to the inhibition of pyroptosis pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Ling Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Meng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Yan-Jie Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Ya-Jie Yu
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Li-Min Liu
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Xiao-Hui Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Ying-Chou Xiao
- School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Jun-Ming Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Meng-Xue Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Xian Yue
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an 710069, PR China
| | - Ye Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an 710069, PR China.
| | - Wen Niu
- School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, PR China.
| | - Zhi-Chao Li
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an 710069, PR China.
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Guan T, Zhou X, Zhou W, Lin H. Regulatory T cell and macrophage crosstalk in acute lung injury: future perspectives. Cell Death Dis 2023; 9:9. [PMID: 36646692 PMCID: PMC9841501 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01310-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Acute lung injury (ALI) describes the injury to endothelial cells in the lungs and associated vessels due to various factors. Furthermore, ALI accompanied by inflammation and thrombosis has been reported as a common complication of SARS-COV-2 infection. It is widely accepted that inflammation and the cytokine storm are main causes of ALI. Two classical anti-inflammatory cell types, regulatory T cells (Tregs) and M2 macrophages, are theoretically capable of resisting uncontrolled inflammation. Recent studies have indicated possible crosstalk between Tregs and macrophages involving their mutual activation. In this review, we discuss the current findings related to ALI pathogenesis and the role of Tregs and macrophages. In particular, we review the molecular mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between Tregs and macrophages in ALI pathogenesis. Understanding the role of Tregs and macrophages will provide the potential targets for treating ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianshu Guan
- grid.260463.50000 0001 2182 8825Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, Jiangxi China ,grid.260463.50000 0001 2182 8825Queen Mary university, Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, Jiangxi Province China
| | - Xv Zhou
- grid.260463.50000 0001 2182 8825Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, Jiangxi China ,grid.260463.50000 0001 2182 8825Queen Mary university, Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, Jiangxi Province China
| | - Wenwen Zhou
- grid.260463.50000 0001 2182 8825Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, Jiangxi China
| | - Hui Lin
- grid.260463.50000 0001 2182 8825Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, Jiangxi China
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8
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Almuntashiri S, Zhang D, Somanath PR, Sikora A. MMP3 in Severe COVID-19: A Biomarker or Therapeutic Target? Infect Disord Drug Targets 2023; 23:e190622206159. [PMID: 35726419 PMCID: PMC11042506 DOI: 10.2174/1871526522666220619121539] [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: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Identifying novel therapies is a critical need in the treatment of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Stromelysin-1, also known as matrixmetalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), has been investigated as a diagnostic biomarker and a potential pharmacological target. Here, we discuss the recent findings of Gelzo et al. in the context of additional MMP3 investigations to delineate its exact role in diagnosis, prognostication, and phenotyping, in addition to its promising role as a therapeutic target in COVID-19-associated respiratory failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sultan Almuntashiri
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of
Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Duo Zhang
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of
Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Payaningal R. Somanath
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of
Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Andrea Sikora
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of
Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
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9
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Serinc2 deficiency causes susceptibility to sepsis-associated acute lung injury. J Inflamm (Lond) 2022; 19:9. [PMID: 35799194 PMCID: PMC9260995 DOI: 10.1186/s12950-022-00306-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Severe sepsis and its subsequent complications cause high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. The lung is one of the most vulnerable organs sensitive to the sepsis-associated inflammatory storm and usually develops into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)/acute lung injury (ALI). The pathogenesis of sepsis-associated ALI is accompanied by coordinated transmembrane signal transduction and subsequent programmed cell death; however, the underlying mechanism remains largely unclear. Results Here we find that the expression of serine incorporator 2 (Serinc2), a protein involved in phosphatidylserine synthesis and membrane incorporation, is upregulated in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced ALI. Furthermore, the Serinc2-knockout (KO) mouse line is generated by the CRISPR-cas9 approach. Compared with wild-type mice, the Serinc2-KO mice exhibit exacerbated ALI-related pathologies after CLP. The expressions of pro-inflammatory factors, including IL1β, IL6, TNFα, and MCP1, are significantly enhanced by Serinc2 deficiency, concurrent with over-activation of STAT3, p38 and ERK pathways. Conversely, Serinc2 overexpression in RAW264.7 cells significantly suppresses the inflammatory responses induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Serinc2 KO aggravates CLP-induced apoptosis as evidenced by increases in TUNEL-positive staining, Bax expression, and cleaved caspase-3 and decreases in BCL-2 expression and Akt phosphorylation, whereas these changes are suppressed by Serinc2 overexpression in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, the administration of AKTin, an inhibitor of Akt, abolishes the protective effects of Serinc2 overexpression against inflammation and apoptosis. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate a protective role of Serinc2 in the lung through activating the Akt pathway, and provide novel insight into the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced ALI. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12950-022-00306-x.
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Attenuation of the Severity of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome by Pomiferin through Blocking Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in an AKT/Foxo1 Pathway-Dependent Manner. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:5236908. [PMID: 36471865 PMCID: PMC9719418 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5236908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) gives rise to uncontrolled inflammatory response and oxidative stress, causing very high mortality globally. Pomiferin is a kind of prenylated isoflavonoid extracted from Maclura pomifera, owning anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, the functions and possible mechanisms of pomiferin in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced ARDS remain unknown. C57BL/6 mice were injected with LPS (5 mg/kg) intratracheally to induce an in vivo ARDS model while RAW264.7 macrophages were stimulated with LPS (100 ng/ml) to induce an in vitro model. Our data demonstrated that pomiferin (20 mg/kg) significantly improved pulmonary function and lung pathological injury in mice with ARDS, apart from increasing survival rate. Meanwhile, pomiferin treatment also inhibited LPS-induced inflammation as well as oxidative stress in lung tissues. LPS stimulation significantly activated AKT/Foxo1 signal pathway in lung tissues, which could be reversed after pomiferin treatment. In vitro experiments further showed that 10, 20, and 50 μM of pomiferin could enhance cell viability of RAW264.7 macrophages stimulated with LPS. What is more, 3-deoxysappanchalcone (3-DE), one AKT agonist, was used to active AKT in RAW264.7 macrophages. The results further showed that 3-DE could abolish pomiferin-elicited protection in LPS-treated RAW264.7 macrophages, evidenced by activated inflammation and oxidative stress. Taken together, our study showed that pomiferin could exert an ARDS-protective effect by blocking the AKT/Foxo1 signal pathway to inhibit LPS-induced inflammatory response and oxidative injury, which may serve as a potential candidate for the treatment of ARDS in the future.
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11
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Diagnostic Potential of microRNAs in Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid for Pneumonia—A Preliminary Report. Cells 2022; 11:cells11192961. [PMID: 36230923 PMCID: PMC9564323 DOI: 10.3390/cells11192961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Current clinical needs require the development and use of rapid and effective diagnostic indicators to accelerate the identification of pneumonia and the process of microbiological diagnosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in extracellular vesicles (EVs) have become attractive candidates for novel biomarkers to evaluate the presence and progress of many diseases. We assessed their performance as biomarkers of pneumonia. Patients were divided into the pneumonia group (with pneumonia) and the control group (without pneumonia). We identified and compared two upregulated miRNAs in EVs derived from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF-EVs) between the two groups (PmiR–17–5p = 0.009; PmiR–193a–5p = 0.031). Interestingly, in cell-debris pellets and EVs-free supernatants derived from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF-cell-debris pellets and BALF-EVs-free supernatants), total plasma, and EVs derived from plasma (plasma-EVs), the expression of miR–17–5p and miR–193a–5p showed no difference between pneumonia group and control group. In vitro experiments revealed that miR–17–5p and miR–193a–5p were strikingly upregulated in EVs derived from macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. MiR–17–5p (area under the curve, AUC: 0.753) and miR–193a–5p (AUC: 0.692) in BALF-EVs are not inferior to procalcitonin (AUC: 0.685) in the diagnosis of pneumonia. Furthermore, miR–17–5p and miR–193a–5p in BALF-EVs had a significantly higher specificity compared to procalcitonin and could be served as a potential diagnostic marker. MiR–17–5p and miR–193a–5p in EVs may be involved in lung inflammation by influencing the forkhead box O (FoxO) signaling pathway and protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum. This study is one of the few studies which focused on the potential diagnostic role of miRNAs in BALF-EVs for pneumonia and the possibility to use them as new biomarkers for a rapid and early diagnosis.
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12
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Raeeszadeh-Sarmazdeh M, Coban M, Mahajan S, Hockla A, Sankaran B, Downey GP, Radisky DC, Radisky ES. Engineering of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases TIMP-1 for fine discrimination between closely-related stromelysins MMP-3 and MMP-10. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101654. [PMID: 35101440 PMCID: PMC8902619 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have long been known as key drivers in the development and progression of diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and many other inflammatory and degenerative diseases, making them attractive potential drug targets. Engineering selective inhibitors based upon tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), endogenous human proteins that tightly yet nonspecifically bind to the family of MMPs, represents a promising new avenue for therapeutic development. Here, we used a counter-selective screening strategy for directed evolution of yeast-displayed human TIMP-1 to obtain TIMP-1 variants highly selective for the inhibition of MMP-3 in preference over MMP-10. As MMP-3 and MMP-10 are the most similar MMPs in sequence, structure, and function, our results thus clearly demonstrate the capability for engineering full-length TIMP proteins to be highly selective MMP inhibitors. We show using protein crystal structures and models of MMP-3-selective TIMP-1 variants bound to MMP-3 and counter-target MMP-10 how structural alterations within the N-terminal and C-terminal TIMP-1 domains create new favorable and selective interactions with MMP-3 and disrupt unique interactions with MMP-10. While our MMP-3-selective inhibitors may be of interest for future investigation in diseases where this enzyme drives pathology, our platform and screening strategy can be employed for developing selective inhibitors of additional MMPs implicated as therapeutic targets in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mathew Coban
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Shivansh Mahajan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Alexandra Hockla
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Banumathi Sankaran
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging, Berkeley Center for Structural Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720
| | - Gregory P Downey
- Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado 80206; Departments of Medicine, and Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Derek C Radisky
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Evette S Radisky
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida 32224.
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Geng P, Ling BY, Zhang HL, Xiong JL, Wang Y, Yu F, Tan DY, Xu JY, Wang HH. Xuebijing Injection Ameliorates H 2S-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome by Promoting Claudin-5 Expression. Chin J Integr Med 2021; 28:116-123. [PMID: 34874518 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-021-3344-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of Xuebijing Injection (XBJ) on the lung endothelial barrier in hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to H2S (300 ppm) to establish ARDS model, while human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) were incubated with NaHS (a H2S donor, 500 µmol/L) to establish cell model. H2S and XBJ were concurrently administered to the rat and cell models. Lung hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy and wet/dry ratio measurement were used to confirm ARDS induced by H2S in vivo. The expression levels of claudin-5, phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT)/t-AKT and p-forkhead box transcription factor O1 (FoxO1)/t-FoxO1 in vivo and in vitro were also assessed. Paracellular permeability and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) were measured to evaluate endothelial barrier function in the cell model. RESULTS The morphological investigation showed that XBJ attenuated H2S-induced ARDS in rats. XBJ significantly ameliorated both the reduction in TEER and the increased paracellular permeability observed in NaHS-treated HPMECs (P<0.05). The protective effects of XBJ were blocked by LY294002, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/FoxO1 pathway antagonist (P<0.05). Furthermore, XBJ promoted the expression of claudin-5 and increased the levels of p-AKT and p-FoxO1 in vivo and in vitro (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS XBJ ameliorated H2S-induced ARDS by promoting claudin-5 expression via the PI3K/AKT/FoxO1 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Geng
- Department of Emergency, Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225001, China
| | - Bing-Yu Ling
- Department of Emergency, Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225001, China
| | - Hong-Liang Zhang
- The First Clinical Medical College of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, 116044, China
| | - Jia-Li Xiong
- The First Clinical Medical College of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, 116044, China
| | - Ying Wang
- The First Clinical Medical College of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, 116044, China
| | - Fen Yu
- Department of Emergency, Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225001, China
| | - Ding-Yu Tan
- Department of Emergency, Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225001, China
| | - Ji-Yang Xu
- Department of Emergency, Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225001, China
| | - Hui-Hui Wang
- Department of Emergency, Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225001, China.
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Li S, Zhao L, Li X, Shang G, Gao L, Song Z, Li T. Mir-204 Regulates LPS-Induced A549 Cell Damage by Targeting FOXK2. JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING 2021; 2021:7404671. [PMID: 34900201 PMCID: PMC8654527 DOI: 10.1155/2021/7404671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Objective To assess whether miR-204 and HA affect A549 cell injury induced by lipopolysaccharide. Material and Methods. A549 cells were treated with hirsutanol A, and cell damage was induced by LPS followed by analysis of cell proliferation by CCK-8, cell apoptosis by flow cytometry, apoptosis-related protein expression by western blot, downstream target of miR-20 by dual-luciferase reporter gene, and inflammatory factors by ELISA and PCR. Results LPS can significantly inhibit the viability of A549 cells, induce cell apoptosis, and promote the release of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, while HA pretreatment can target FOXK2 by upregulating miR-204 levels, thereby alleviating apoptosis and promoting cell viability and at the same time inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB. Conclusions miR-204 participates in the protection of HA acute lung injury by targeting FOXK2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shufen Li
- Department of Physiology, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi 046000, China
| | - Lifen Zhao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shanxi Academy of Hospital Sciences, Taiyuan, Shanxi 046000, China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi 046000, China
| | - Xujiong Li
- Department of Physiology, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi 046000, China
| | - Gaiping Shang
- Department of Physiology, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi 046000, China
| | - Lijing Gao
- Department of Physiology, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi 046000, China
| | - Zhuohui Song
- Department of Physiology, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi 046000, China
| | - Ting Li
- Department of Physiology, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi 046000, China
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Lu X, Ma W, Fan B, Li P, Gao J, Liu Q, Hu C, Li Y, Yao M, Ning H, Xing L. Integrating Network Pharmacology, Transcriptome and Artificial Intelligence for Investigating Into the Effect and Mechanism of Ning Fei Ping Xue Decoction Against the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:731377. [PMID: 34803679 PMCID: PMC8595141 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.731377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a high-mortality disease and lacks effective pharmacotherapy. A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, Ning Fei Ping Xue (NFPX) decoction, was demonstrated to play a critical role in alleviating inflammatory responses of the lung. However, its therapeutic effectiveness in ARDS and active compounds, targets, and molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The present study investigates the effects of NFPX decoction on ARDS mice induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The results revealed that NFPX alleviated lung edema evaluated by lung ultrasound, decreased lung wet/Dry ratio, the total cell numbers of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in BALF and serum, and ameliorated lung pathology in a dose-dependent manner. Subsequently, UPLC-HRMS was performed to establish the compounds of NFPX. A total of 150 compounds in NFPX were characterized. Moreover, integrating network pharmacology approach and transcriptional profiling of lung tissues were performed to predict the underlying mechanism. 37 active components and 77 targets were screened out, and a herbs-compounds-targets network was constructed. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from LPS-treated mice compared with LPS combined with NFPX mice. GO, KEGG, and artificial intelligence analysis indicated that NFPX might act on various drug targets. At last, potential targets, HRAS, SMAD4, and AMPK, were validated by qRT-PCR in ARDS murine model. In conclusion, we prove the efficacy of NFPX decoction in the treatment of ARDS. Furthermore, integrating network pharmacology, transcriptome, and artificial intelligence analysis contributes to illustrating the molecular mechanism of NFPX decoction on ARDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Lu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wentao Ma
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Baofeng Fan
- Air Force General Hospital PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Basic Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
| | - Jing Gao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qiuhong Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chunling Hu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mengying Yao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hanbing Ning
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lihua Xing
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Adil MS, Khulood D, Narayanan SP, Somanath PR. Bioinformatics analyses reveal cell-barrier junction modulations in lung epithelial cells on SARS-CoV-2 infection. Tissue Barriers 2021; 10:2000300. [PMID: 34740309 DOI: 10.1080/21688370.2021.2000300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell junctions maintain the blood-tissue barriers to preserve vascular and tissue integrity. Viral infections reportedly modulate cell-cell junctions to facilitate their invasion. However, information on the effect of COVID-19 infection on the gene expression of cell junction and cytoskeletal proteins is limited. Using the Gene Expression Omnibus and Reactome databases, we analyzed the data on human lung A549, NHBE, and Calu-3 cells for the expression changes in cell junction and cytoskeletal proteins by SARS-CoV-2 (CoV-2) infection. The analysis revealed changes in 3,660 genes in A549, 100 genes in NHBE, and 592 genes in Calu-3 cells with CoV-2 infection. Interestingly, EGOT (9.8-, 3- and 8.3-fold; p < .05) and CSF3 (4.3-, 33- and 56.3-fold; p < .05) were the only two genes significantly elevated in all three cell lines (A549, NHBE and Calu-3, respectively). On the other hand, 39 genes related to cell junctions and cytoskeleton were modulated in lung cells, with DLL1 demonstrating alterations in all cells. Alterations were also seen in several miRNAs associated with the cell junction and cytoskeleton genes modulated in the analysis. Further, matrix metalloproteinases involved in disease pathologies, including MMP-3, -9, and -12 demonstrated elevated expression on CoV-2 infection (p < .05). The study findings emphasize the integral role of cell junction and cytoskeletal genes in COVID-19, suggesting their therapeutic potential. Our analysis also identified a distinct EGOT gene that has not been previously implicated in COVID-19. Further studies on these newly identified genes and miRNAs could lead to advances in the pathogenesis and therapeutics of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mir S Adil
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Daulat Khulood
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - S Priya Narayanan
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Payaningal R Somanath
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA
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Jia S, Luo H, Liu X, Fan X, Huang Z, Lu S, Shen L, Guo S, Liu Y, Wang Z, Cao L, Cao Z, Zhang X, Zhou W, Zhang J, Li J, Wu J, Xiao W. Dissecting the novel mechanism of reduning injection in treating Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on network pharmacology and experimental verification. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 273:113871. [PMID: 33485971 PMCID: PMC7825842 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Reduning injection (RDNI) is a patented Traditional Chinese medicine that contains three Chinese herbal medicines, respectively are the dry aboveground part of Artemisia annua L., the flower of Lonicera japonica Thunb., and the fruit Gardenia jasminoides J.Ellis. RDNI has been recommended for treating Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the "New Coronavirus Pneumonia Diagnosis and Treatment Plan". AIM OF THE STUDY To elucidate and verify the underlying mechanisms of RDNI for the treatment of COVID-19. METHODS This study firstly performed anti-SARS-CoV-2 experiments in Vero E6 cells. Then, network pharmacology combined with molecular docking was adopted to explore the potential mechanisms of RDNI in the treatment for COVID-19. After that, western blot and a cytokine chip were used to validate the predictive results. RESULTS We concluded that half toxic concentration of drug CC50 (dilution ratio) = 1:1280, CC50 = 2.031 mg crude drugs/mL (0.047 mg solid content/mL) and half effective concentration of drug (EC50) (diluted multiples) = 1:25140.3, EC50 = 103.420 μg crude drugs/mL (2.405 μg solid content/mL). We found that RDNI can mainly regulate targets like carbonic anhydrases (CAs), matrix metallopeptidases (MMPs) and pathways like PI3K/AKT, MAPK, Forkhead box O s and T cell receptor signaling pathways to reduce lung damage. We verified that RDNI could effectively inhibit the overexpression of MAPKs, PKC and p65 nuclear factor-κB. The injection could also affect cytokine levels, reduce inflammation and display antipyretic activity. CONCLUSION RDNI can regulate ACE2, Mpro and PLP in COVID-19. The underlying mechanisms of RDNI in the treatment for COVID-19 may be related to the modulation of the cytokine levels and inflammation and its antipyretic activity by regulating the expression of MAPKs, PKC and p65 nuclear factor NF-κB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Jia
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100102, China.
| | - Hua Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, 999078, China.
| | - Xinkui Liu
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100102, China.
| | - Xiaotian Fan
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100102, China.
| | - Zhihong Huang
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100102, China.
| | - Shan Lu
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100102, China.
| | - Liangliang Shen
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100102, China.
| | - Siyu Guo
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100102, China.
| | - Yingying Liu
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100102, China.
| | - Zhenzhong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of New-tech for Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 222001, China; The Key Laboratory for the New Technique Research of TCM Extraction and Purification, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 222047, China.
| | - Liang Cao
- State Key Laboratory of New-tech for Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 222001, China; The Key Laboratory for the New Technique Research of TCM Extraction and Purification, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 222047, China.
| | - Zeyu Cao
- State Key Laboratory of New-tech for Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 222001, China; The Key Laboratory for the New Technique Research of TCM Extraction and Purification, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 222047, China.
| | - Xinzhuang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of New-tech for Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 222001, China; The Key Laboratory for the New Technique Research of TCM Extraction and Purification, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 222047, China.
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100102, China.
| | - Jingyuan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100102, China.
| | - Jialin Li
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100102, China.
| | - Jiarui Wu
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100102, China.
| | - Wei Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of New-tech for Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 222001, China; The Key Laboratory for the New Technique Research of TCM Extraction and Purification, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 222047, China.
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Kadry RW, Adil MS, Newsome AS, Somanath PR. Cisatracurium attenuates LPS-induced modulation of MMP3 and junctional protein expression in human microvascular endothelial cells. Biosci Trends 2021; 15:50-54. [PMID: 33627570 DOI: 10.5582/bst.2020.03399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening form of acute lung injury (ALI) associated with hypoxemic lung damage and inflammation. Matrix metalloproteinase protein-3 (MMP3 or Stromelysin-1) is known to promote vascular injury in ALI/ARDS. Cisatracurium, a nicotinic neuromuscular blocker, is used in ARDS patients to decrease mechanical ventilator dyssynchrony, increase oxygenation, and improve mortality. However, the magnitude and the underlying mechanisms of these potential benefits of cisatracurium remains unclear. We investigated the effect of cisatracurium on lipopolysaccharide-induced MMP3 expression in human microvascular endothelial cells. In our results, cisatracurium treatment significantly decreased LPS-induced MMP3 expression and increased expression of cell junction proteins such as vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) and claudin-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana W Kadry
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Georgia, and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Mir S Adil
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Georgia, and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Andrea Sikora Newsome
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Georgia, and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Payaningal R Somanath
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Georgia, and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA
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19
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Kadry R, Newsome AS, Somanath PR. Pharmacological Inhibition of MMP3 as a Potential Therapeutic Option for COVID-19 Associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Infect Disord Drug Targets 2021; 21:e170721187996. [PMID: 33200717 PMCID: PMC8551813 DOI: 10.2174/1871526520666201116100310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The high mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is due to their progression to cytokine-associated organ injuries, primarily the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The uncertainties in the molecular mechanisms leading to the switch from the early virus infection to the advanced stage ARDS is a major gridlock in therapeutic development to reduce mortality. Previous studies in our laboratory have identified matrix metalloprotease-3 (MMP3) as an important mediator of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ARDS, particularly in the exudative phase. Our studies have also reported elevated plasma MMP3 activity levels in the ARDS patients and that inhibition of MMP3 can reduce the severity of LPS-induced ARDS in mice. Given these observations, targeting MMP3 could be a potential option to treat COVID-19 patients with ARDS, and measurement of MMP3 activity in the plasma may serve as a biomarker for the early detection of ARDS in COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana Kadry
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA30912, Georgia
| | - Andrea Sikora Newsome
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA30912, Georgia
| | - Payaningal R. Somanath
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA30912, Georgia
- Georgia Cancer Center, Vascular Biology Center and Department of Medicine, Augusta University, Augusta, GA30912, Georgia
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20
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Pentz R, Iulita MF, Mikutra-Cencora M, Ducatenzeiler A, Bennett DA, Cuello AC. A new role for matrix metalloproteinase-3 in the NGF metabolic pathway: Proteolysis of mature NGF and sex-specific differences in the continuum of Alzheimer's pathology. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 148:105150. [PMID: 33130223 PMCID: PMC7856186 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) has been associated with risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study we introduce a novel role for MMP-3 in degrading nerve growth factor (NGF) in vivo and examine its mRNA and protein expression across the continuum of AD pathology. We provide evidence that MMP-3 participates in the degradation of mature NGF in vitro and in vivo and that it is secreted from the rat cerebral cortex in an activity-dependent manner. We show that cortical MMP-3 is upregulated in the McGill-R-Thy1-APP transgenic rat model of AD-like amyloidosis. A similar upregulation was found in AD and MCI brains as well as in cognitively normal individuals with elevated amyloid deposition. We also observed that frontal cortex MMP-3 protein levels are higher in males. MMP-3 protein correlated with more AD neuropathology, markers of NGF metabolism, and lower cognitive scores in males but not in females. These results suggest that MMP-3 upregulation in AD might contribute to NGF dysmetabolism, and therefore to cholinergic atrophy and cognitive deficits, in a sex-specific manner. MMP-3 should be further investigated as a biomarker candidate or as a therapeutic target in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan Pentz
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - M Florencia Iulita
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Maya Mikutra-Cencora
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | | | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - A Claudio Cuello
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
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21
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Alharthi A, Verma A, Sabbineni H, Adil MS, Somanath PR. Distinct effects of pharmacological inhibition of stromelysin1 on endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition and myofibroblast differentiation. J Cell Physiol 2020; 236:5147-5161. [PMID: 33319933 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast (FibroMF) differentiation are frequently reported in organ fibrosis. Stromelysin1, a matrix metalloprotease-3 (MMP3) has been indicated in vascular pathologies and organ injuries that often lead to fibrosis. In the current study, we investigated the role of stromelysin1 in EndMT and FibroMF differentiation, which is currently unknown. In our results, whereas TGFβ2 treatment of endothelial cells (ECs) induced EndMT associated with increased expression of stromelysin1 and mesenchymal markers such as α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), N-cadherin, and activin linked kinase-5 (ALK5), inhibition of stromelysin1 blunted TGFβ2-induced EndMT. In contrast, treatment of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts with TGFβ1 promoted FibroMF differentiation accompanied by increased expression of αSMA, N-cadherin, and ALK5. Intriguingly, stromelysin1 inhibition in TGFβ1-stimulated myofibroblasts further exacerbated fibroproliferation with increased FibroMF marker expression. Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data analysis indicated increased stromelysin1 expression associated with EndMT and decreased stromelysin1 expression in human pulmonary fibrosis fibroblasts. In conclusion, our study has identified that EndMT and FibroMF differentiation are reciprocally regulated by stromelysin1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahlam Alharthi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Arti Verma
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Harika Sabbineni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Mir S Adil
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Payaningal R Somanath
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia, USA.,Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA.,Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Medicine, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
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22
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Adil MS, Narayanan SP, Somanath PR. Cell-cell junctions: structure and regulation in physiology and pathology. Tissue Barriers 2020; 9:1848212. [PMID: 33300427 DOI: 10.1080/21688370.2020.1848212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial and endothelial cell-cell contacts are established and maintained by several intercellular junctional complexes. These structurally and biochemically differentiated regions on the plasma membrane primarily include tight junctions (TJs), and anchoring junctions. While the adherens junctions (AJs) provide essential adhesive and mechanical properties, TJs hold the cells together and form a near leak-proof intercellular seal by the fusion of adjacent cell membranes. AJs and TJs play essential roles in vascular permeability. Considering their involvement in several key cellular functions such as barrier formation, proliferation, migration, survival, and differentiation, further research is warranted on the composition and signaling pathways regulating cell-cell junctions to develop novel therapeutics for diseases such as organ injuries. The current review article presents our current state of knowledge on various cell-cell junctions, their molecular composition, and mechanisms regulating their expression and function in endothelial and epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mir S Adil
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center , Augusta, GA, USA
| | - S Priya Narayanan
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center , Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Payaningal R Somanath
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center , Augusta, GA, USA
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23
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Verma A, Artham S, Somanath PR. ALK-1 to ALK-5 ratio dictated by the Akt1-β-catenin pathway regulates TGFβ-induced endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Gene 2020; 768:145293. [PMID: 33157202 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.145293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) indispensable in embryogenesis also occurs in several human pathologies. Although transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) has been demonstrated to induce EndMT, the type-I receptors (ALK-1 and ALK-5) responsible for TGFβ-induced EndMT is unclear. In the current study, we investigated the role of the Akt1 pathway in ALK1 and ALK5 expression regulation in response to TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs). Whereas treatment with TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 or Akt1 gene silencing promoted EndMT accompanied by increased ALK5 expression and reduced ALK1 expression accompanied by increased expression of N-cadherin and reduced expression of eNOS in HMECs, treatment with ALK-5 inhibitor (SB431542) blunted these effects. Importantly, the inhibitor of β-catenin (ICG-001) suppressed TGFβ1- and TGFβ2-induced ALK5 expression in both normal and Akt1 deficient HMECs indicating the integral role of Akt1-β-catenin pathway in the regulation of ALK5 expression promoting EndMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arti Verma
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Sandeep Artham
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Payaningal R Somanath
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, United States; Department of Medicine and Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States.
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24
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Rudraraju M, Narayanan SP, Somanath PR. Regulation of blood-retinal barrier cell-junctions in diabetic retinopathy. Pharmacol Res 2020; 161:105115. [PMID: 32750417 PMCID: PMC7755666 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Loss of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) integrity and subsequent damage to the neurovascular unit in the retina are the underlying reasons for diabetic retinopathy (DR). Damage to BRB eventually leads to severe visual impairment in the absence of prompt intervention. Diabetic macular edema and proliferative DR are the advanced stages of the disease where BRB integrity is altered. Primary mechanisms contributing to BRB dysfunction include loss of cell-cell barrier junctions, vascular endothelial growth factor, advanced glycation end products-induced damage, and oxidative stress. Although much is known about the involvement of adherens and tight-junction proteins in the regulation of vascular permeability in various diseases, there is a significant gap in our knowledge on the junctional proteins expressed in the BRB and how BRB function is modulated in the diabetic retina. In this review article, we present our current understanding of the molecular composition of BRB, the changes in the BRB junctional protein turnover in DR, and how BRB functional modulation affects vascular permeability and macular edema in the diabetic retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhuri Rudraraju
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States; James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - S Priya Narayanan
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States; Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States; James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Payaningal R Somanath
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States; Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States; Department of Medicine, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States.
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25
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Study on Intervention Mechanism of Yiqi Huayu Jiedu Decoction on ARDS Based on Network Pharmacology. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2020; 2020:4782470. [PMID: 32849901 PMCID: PMC7439204 DOI: 10.1155/2020/4782470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Background Yiqi Huayu Jiedu (YQHYJD) is a traditional Chinese medicine decoction made up of eight traditional Chinese medicines. Although YQHYJD is effectively used to prevent and treat ARDS/acute lung injury (ALI) in rats, the molecular mechanisms supporting its clinical application remain elusive. The purpose of the current study was to understand its lung protective effects at the molecular level using network pharmacology approach. Methods In an ARDS animal model, the beneficial pharmacological activities of YQHYJD were confirmed by reduced lung tissue damage levels observed on drug treated rats versus control group. We then proposed a network analysis to discover the key nodes based on drugs and disease network. Subsequently, we analyzed interaction networks and screened key targets. Using Western blot to detect the expression level of key targets, the intervention effect of changes in expression level of key targets on ARDS was evaluated. Results Pathway enrichment analysis of highly ranked genes showed that ErbB pathways were highly related to ARDS. Finally, western blot results showed decreased level of the AKT1 and KRAS/NRAS/HRAS protein in the lung after treatment which confirmed the hypothesis. Conclusion In conclusion, our results suggest that YQHYJD can exert lung tissue protective effect against the severe injury through multiple pathways, including the endothelial cells permeability improvement, inflammatory reaction inhibition, edema, and lung tissue hemorrhage reduction.
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26
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Gah A, Adil MS, Sabbineni H, Verma A, Somanath PR. Differential regulation of TGFβ type-I receptor expressions in TGFβ1-induced myofibroblast differentiation. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2020; 98:841-848. [PMID: 32702244 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2020-0123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Fibroblast-to-myofibroblast (FibroMF) differentiation is crucial for embryogenesis and organ fibrosis. Although transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) is the primary mediator of FibroMF differentiation, the type-I receptor (TGFβRI) responsible for this has not yet been confirmed. In the current study, we investigated the ALK1 and ALK5 expressions in TGFβ1-stimulated NIH 3T3 fibroblasts to compare with the data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository. In our results, whereas TGFβ1 treatment promoted FibroMF differentiation accompanied by increased ALK5 expression and reduced ALK1 expression, TGFβ1-induced FibroMF differentiation and increased α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and ALK5 expression were inhibited by co-treatment with ALK5 inhibitor SB431542. GEO database analysis indicated increased ALK5 expression and reduced ALK1 expression in fibrotic compared to normal mouse or human tissues correlating with organ fibrosis progression. Finally, the inhibitors of Akt, mTOR, and β-catenin suppressed TGFβ1-induced ALK5 expression, indicating that the Akt pathway promotes FibroMF differentiation via ALK5 expression and fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Gah
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Mir S Adil
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Harika Sabbineni
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Arti Verma
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Payaningal R Somanath
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.,Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.,Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.,Department of Medicine, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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27
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Artham S, Verma A, Newsome AS, Somanath PR. Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome exhibit increased stromelysin1 activity in the blood samples. Cytokine 2020; 131:155086. [PMID: 32272349 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2020.155086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Enzyme activity analyses in the blood are expected to be reliable, non-invasive diagnostic as well as prognostic markers to reflect disease progression in acute lung injury (ALI). The objective of the current study was to evaluate the enzymatic activity of stromelysin1 (matrix metalloprotease-3) in the plasma/serum samples collected from ALI patients compared to the samples collected from healthy controls. Gene expression omnibus (GEO) database analysis indicated a correlation between increased stromelysin1 gene expression and the incidence of ALI in various animal models. Our analysis of patient plasma/serum samples from healthy controls and ALI patients revealed a significant, 3-fold increase in stromelysin1 activity in ALI plasma/serum compared to healthy subjects with no difference in stromelysin1 activity between the serum and plasma samples. Interestingly, no significant difference in stromelysin1 activity between non-smoking and smoking subjects was observed. These findings provide fundamental information on the potential reliability of stromelysin1 activity analysis, combined with other biomarkers in development, in blood samples for the early detection of ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Artham
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Arti Verma
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Andrea Sikora Newsome
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Payaningal R Somanath
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States; Georgia Cancer Center, Vascular Biology Center and Department of Medicine, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States.
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28
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Artham S, Verma A, Alwhaibi A, Adil MS, Manicassamy S, Munn DH, Somanath PR. Delayed Akt suppression in the lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury promotes resolution that is associated with enhanced effector regulatory T cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2020; 318:L750-L761. [PMID: 32073894 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00251.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The adaptive immune response could play a major role in the resolution of lung injury. Although regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been implicated in promoting the resolution of lung injury, therapeutic strategies to enhance Treg quantity and activity at the site of injury need further exploration. In the current study, Akt inhibition using triciribine (TCBN), given 48 h after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration, increased Tregs-promoted resolution of acute lung injury (ALI). TCBN treatment enhanced the resolution of LPS-induced ALI on day 7 by reducing pulmonary edema and neutrophil activity associated with an increased number of CD4+/FoxP3+/CD103+ and CTLA4+ effector Tregs, specifically in the injured lungs and not in the spleen. Treatment of EL-4 T-lymphocytes with two Akt inhibitors (TCBN and MK-2206) for 72 h resulted in increased FoxP3 expression in vitro. On the other end, Treg-specific PTEN knockout (PTENTreg KO) mice that have a higher Akt activity in its Tregs exhibited a significant impairment in ALI resolution, increased edema, and neutrophil activity associated with a reduced number of CD4+/FoxP3+/CD103+ and CTLA4+ effector Tregs as compared with the control group. In conclusion, our study identifies a potential target for the treatment of late-stage ALI by promoting resolution through effector Treg-mediated suppression of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Artham
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Arti Verma
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Abdulrahman Alwhaibi
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Mir S Adil
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
| | | | - David H Munn
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Payaningal R Somanath
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia.,Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia.,Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia.,Department of Medicine, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
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29
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Huang XT, Liu W, Zhou Y, Sun M, Yang HH, Zhang CY, Tang SY. Galectin-1 ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury via AMPK-Nrf2 pathway in mice. Free Radic Biol Med 2020; 146:222-233. [PMID: 31711983 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Inflammation and oxidative stress contribute to the progression of acute lung injury (ALI). Galectin-1 (Gal-1) has important anti-inflammatory properties in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, arthritis, uveitis, and hepatitis. However, whether Gal-1 could protect against ALI is still poorly elucidated. The current study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Gal-1 against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI and the underlying mechanisms. Accordingly, we found that pretreatment with Gal-1 attenuated the lung tissue injury induced by LPS, with the recovery of lung function, protecting against the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress. We also confirmed the therapeutic potential of Gal-1 on the survival rate of LPS-challenged mice. In vitro studies demonstrated the protective effects of exogenous Gal-1 through downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines release and oxidative stress in primary macrophages challenged by LPS. In addition, Gal-1 suppressed TXNIP-NLRP3 inflammasome activation in ALI mice and LPS-treated primary macrophages partly through directly binding to the NLRP3 protein. Gal-1 alleviated LPS-induced lung injury via activation of Nrf-2, which may be associated with AMPK phosphorylation. Collectively, our experimental results firstly provided the support that Gal-1 effectively protected against LPS-induced ALI via suppression of inflammation response and oxidative stress, which were largely dependent on the upregulation of the Nrf2 pathway via phosphorylation of AMPK. These results suggest that Gal-1 could be a valuable therapeutic candidate in the treatment of ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Ting Huang
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yong Zhou
- Department of Physiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Mei Sun
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hui-Hui Yang
- Department of Physiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chen-Yu Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Si-Yuan Tang
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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30
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Abstract
Whereas physiological vascular permeability (VP) mediates selective transport of plasma, electrolytes, proteins, and cells across an intact endothelial barrier, pathological VP results in the loss of endothelial barrier integrity. Whereas physiological VP is a feature of regular host defense and tissue repair, compromised barrier function may lead to aberrant vascular leakage, concurrent tissue edema, and inflammation eventually causing life-threatening conditions such as acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome, cancer, kidney injury, etc. Measurement of VP helps to identify, design, and optimize anti-leak therapies. Further, it can define the effect of a stimulus or a gene modulation in endothelial-barrier regulation. The degree of VP can be of importance to determine the stage of cancer and disease prognosis. This chapter discusses Miles assay, which is a well-established, relatively simple, and a reliable in vivo technique to assess VP as a surrogate measurement. Although a reliable technique, Miles assay is time-consuming, and the technique does not consider the compounding factors that may increase VP independently of endothelial-barrier regulation, such as blood pressure or blood flow. As an alternative, we describe fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran lung permeability assay, a method that can also be adapted to measure VP and edema in other organs such as the brain and kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mir S Adil
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Payaningal R Somanath
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA.
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31
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Sabbineni H, Verma A, Artham S, Anderson D, Amaka O, Liu F, Narayanan SP, Somanath PR. Pharmacological inhibition of β-catenin prevents EndMT in vitro and vascular remodeling in vivo resulting from endothelial Akt1 suppression. Biochem Pharmacol 2019; 164:205-215. [PMID: 30991049 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT), where endothelial cells acquire mesenchymal characteristics has been implicated in several cardiopulmonary, vascular and fibrotic diseases. The most commonly studied molecular mechanisms involved in EndMT include TGFβ, Notch, interleukin, and interferon-γ signaling. As of today, the contributions of Akt1, an important mediator of TGFβ signaling and a key regulator of endothelial barrier function to EndMT remains unclear. By using the ShRNA based gene silencing approach and endothelial-specific inducible Akt1 knockdown (ECKOAkt1) mice, we studied the role of Akt1 in EndMT in vitro and pathological vascular remodeling in vivo. Stable, Akt1 silenced (ShAkt1) human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs) indicated increased expression of mesenchymal markers such as N-cadherin and α-SMA, phosphorylation of Smad2/3, cellular stress via activation of p38 MAP Kinase and the loss of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) accompanied by a change in the morphology of HMECs in vitro and co-localization of endothelial and mesenchymal markers promoting EndMT in vivo. EndMT as a result of Akt1 loss was associated with increased expression of TGFβ2, a potent inducer of EndMT and mesenchymal transcription factors Snail1, and FoxC2. We observed that hypoxia-induced lung vascular remodeling is exacerbated in ECKOAkt1 mice, which was reversed by pharmacological inhibition of β-catenin. Thus, we provide novel insights into the role of Akt1-mediated β-catenin signaling in EndMT and pathological vascular remodeling, and present β-catenin as a potential target for therapy for various cardiopulmonary diseases involving vascular remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harika Sabbineni
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Arti Verma
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Sandeep Artham
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Daniel Anderson
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Oge Amaka
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Fang Liu
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Subhadra P Narayanan
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Payaningal R Somanath
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, United States; Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Center and Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States.
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