Mir-29b mediates the regulation of Nrf2 on airway epithelial remodeling and Th1/Th2 differentiation in COPD rats

Interleukin-2/anti-interleukin-2 complex attenuates inflammation in a mouse COPD model by expanding CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Chronic, nonspecific inflammation of the alveoli and airways is an important pathological feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while sustained inflammatory reactions can cause alveolar damage. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) inhibit inflammation, whereas the interleukin-2/anti-interleukin-2 complex (IL-2C) increases the number of Tregs; however, whether the IL-2C has a therapeutic role in COPD remains unknown. Therefore, this study investigated whether IL-2C alleviates lung inflammation in COPD by increasing the number of Tregs.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

A mouse COPD model was created by exposing mice to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and cigarette smoke (CS), and the effects of IL-2C treatment on COPD were evaluated. The number of Tregs in the spleen and lung, pulmonary pathological changes, and inflammatory damage were examined through flow cytometry, histopathology, and immunofluorescence, respectively.

KEY RESULTS

IL-2C increased the number of Treg cells in the spleen and lungs after exposure to CS and LPS, reduced the number of T helper 17 (Th17) cells in lung tissue, and improved the Th17/Treg balance. IL-2C decreased the number of inflammatory cells and reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, CCL5, KC, and MCP-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum. IL-2C significantly reduced the pathological scores for lung inflammation, as well as decreased airway mucus secretion and infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages in the lungs. The depletion of Tregs using anti-CD25 antibodies eliminated the beneficial effects of IL-2C.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

IL-2C is a potential therapeutic agent for alleviating excessive inflammation in the lungs of patients with COPD.

Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification Reveal the Regulatory Mechanism of Chuanbeimu in Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common respiratory disorder in pulmonology. Chuanbeimu (CBM) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb for treating COPD and has been widely utilized in clinical practice. However, the mechanism of CBM in the treatment of COPD remains incompletely understood. This study aims to investigate the underlying therapeutic mechanism of CBM for COPD using network pharmacology and experimental approaches.

Methods

Active ingredients and their targets were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database. COPD-associated targets were retrieved from the GeneCards database. The common targets for CBM and COPD were identified through Venn diagram analysis. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and disease-herb-ingredient-target networks were constructed. Subsequently, the results of the network pharmacology were validated by molecular docking and in vitro experiments.

Results

Seven active ingredients and 32 potential targets for CBM were identified as closely associated with COPD. The results of the disease-herb-ingredient-target network and PPI network showed that peimisine emerged as the core ingredient, and SRC, ADRB2, MMP2, and NOS3 were the potential targets for CBM in treating COPD. Molecular docking analysis confirmed that peimisine exhibited high binding affinity with SRC, ADRB2, MMP2, and NOS3. In vitro experiments demonstrated that peimisine significantly upregulated the expression of ADRB2 and NOS3 and downregulated the expression of SRC and MMP2.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that CBM may modulate the expression of SRC, ADRB2, MMP2, and NOS3, thereby exerting a protective effect against COPD.

Notoginsenoside R1 restrains the proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells isolated from rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

OBJECTIVE

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common disorder that is characterized by systemic and lung inflammation. Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1) displays anti-inflammatory properties in numerous diseases. We aimed to explore the function and mechanism of NGR1 in COPD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

COPD rats were established through cigarette smoke exposure, lipopolysaccharide injection, and cold stimulation. Rat airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) were separated and identified. Then, ASMCs were treated with NGR1 (25 or 50 μM) and cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Thereafter, the vitality, proliferation, and migration of ASMCs were measured. Additionally, cell cycle, inflammation-related factors, α-SMA, and PI3K/AKT pathway-related marker expressions of the ASMCs were also detected. Molecular docking experiments were conducted to explore the interaction of NGR1 to PI3K, TGF-β, p65, and AKT. Moreover, 740 Y-P (a PI3K/Akt pathway agonist) were used to validate the mechanism of NGR1 on COPD.

RESULTS

NGR1 inhibited the proliferation and migration, but caused cell cycle arrest for CSE-triggered ASMCs. Furthermore, NGR1 not only decreased IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α contents, but also reduced α-SMA expression in CSE-stimulated ASMCs. Moreover, NGR1restrainedTGF-β1 expression, PI3K, p65, and AKT phosphorylation in CSE-stimulated ASMCs. Molecular docking experiments showed NGR1 exhibited a strong binding ability to PI3K, TGF-β1, p65, and AKT. Notably, the effects of NGR1 on the proliferation and migration of CSE-induced ASMCs were reversed by 740 Y-P.

CONCLUSIONS

NGR1 can restrain the proliferation and migration of CSE-induced ASMCs, indicating that NGR1 may be a therapeutic candidate for treating COPD.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress: a vital process and potential therapeutic target in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a chronic and progressive disease characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and progressive airflow obstruction, has attracted extensive attention due to its high morbidity and mortality. Although the understanding of the pathogenesis of COPD has gradually increased because of increasing evidence, many questions regarding the mechanisms involved in COPD progression and its deleterious effects remain unanswered. Recent advances have shown the potential functions of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in causing airway inflammation, emphasizing the vital role of unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways in the development of COPD.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of major databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted to retrieve original research articles and reviews related to ER stress, UPR, and COPD.

RESULTS

The common causes of COPD, namely cigarette smoke (CS) and air pollutants, induce ER stress through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). UPR promotes mucus secretion and further plays a dual role in the cell apoptosis-autophagy axis in the development of COPD. Existing drug research has indicated the potential of UPR as a therapeutic target for COPD.

CONCLUSIONS

ER stress and UPR activation play significant roles in the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of COPD and discuss whether related genes can be used as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

LncRNA H19 promotes tumor angiogenesis in smokers by targeting anti-angiogenic miRNAs

A key concept in drug discovery is the identification of candidate therapeutic targets such as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) because of their extensive involvement in neoplasms, and impressionability by smoking. Induced by exposure to cigarette smoke, lncRNA H19 targets and inactivates miR-29, miR-30a, miR-107, miR-140, miR-148b, miR-199a and miR-200, which control the rate of angiogenesis by inhibiting BiP, DLL4, FGF7, HIF1A, HIF1B, HIF2A, PDGFB, PDGFRA, VEGFA, VEGFB, VEGFC, VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and VEGFR3. Nevertheless, these miRNAs are often dysregulated in bladder cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, glioma, gastric adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, meningioma, non-small-cell lung carcinoma, oral squamous cell carcinoma, ovarian cancer, prostate adenocarcinoma and renal cell carcinoma. As such, the present perspective article seeks to establish an evidence-based hypothetical model of how a smoking-related lncRNA known as H19 might aggravate angiogenesis by interfering with miRNAs that would otherwise regulate angiogenesis in a nonsmoking individual.

MiR-29b level-mediated regulation of Klotho methylation via DNMT3A targeting in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease characterized by chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) is the predominant cause of COPD. This study aimed to investigate the effects of miR-29b and their underlying mechanisms in a COPD cell model. MiR-29b and DNMT3A expression in lung tissue samples (taken at least 5 cm away from the tumor lesion) of NSCLC cases with smoking (n = 30), without smoking (n = 30), and with COPD (with smoking) (n = 30) was researched by qRT-PCR. A medium containing 10 % CSE was employed to induce murine alveolar macrophage MH-S cells to establish COPD cells. 5-Aza-cdr (5-AZA-2'-deoxycytidine) was used to block DNMT3A. The relationship and interaction between miR-29b and DNMT3A were validated through the dual luciferase reporter assay. The expression levels of macrophage M1 polarization marker proteins iNOS and TNF-α, DNMT3A, and Klotho protein were monitored using western blotting. The methylation levels of the miR-29b precursor gene and Klotho promoter were detected by quantitative methylation-specific PCR (MS-qPCR). The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in cell culture medium were detected via ELISA. It was found that the expression of miR-29b was downregulated, as a result of increased DNA methylation, and that of DNMT3A was upregulated in the lung tissues of NSCLC cases with COPD (with smoking). DNMT3A expression was negatively correlated with miR-29b expression in the lung tissues of NSCLC cases with COPD (with smoking). In addition, miR-29b expression was distinctly downregulated in CSE-induced MH-S cells and inhibited CSE-induced M1 polarization and inflammation. Importantly, DNMT3A was identified as a direct target gene of miR-29b. MiR-29b is negatively regulated by DNMT3A-mediated DNA methylation. Moreover, Klotho expression was downregulated and the Klotho promoter methylation level was increased in lung tissues of NSCLC cases with COPD (with smoking). The negative feedback between miR-29b and DNMT3A modulates CSE-induced M1 polarization and inflammation in macrophages as well as Klotho promoter methylation in CSE-mediated MH-S. Collectively, these findings indicate that the miR-29b level in COPD controls Klotho methylation via DNMT3, which maybe a promising target for the treatment of COPD.

Subacute cadmium exposure modulates Th1 polarization to trigger ER stress-induced porcine hepatocyte apoptosis via regulation of miR-369-TNFα axis

Cadmium (Cd), as a common environmental pollutant, has been reported to cause T lymphocyte dysfunction and cell apoptosis in multiple organs. However, whether subacute Cd exposure can induce apoptosis of hepatocytes and the relationship with Th1/Th2 imbalance were still unclear. In this study, ten 6-week-old piglets were selected and randomly assigned into two groups, the control group and the Cd group. The control group was fed with the standard diet, and for the Cd group, the standard diet was supplemented with 20 mg/kg CdCl2; liver tissue was collected on the 40th day of the experiment. Immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and western blot were performed to detect the expression of miR-369, Th1/Th2 biomarkers, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related genes, and apoptotic genes. TUNEL assay was applied to stain apoptotic hepatocytes. In the Cd group, the apoptosis of hepatocytes was significantly increased, and associated with the declined expression of miR-369, Th1 polarization, the elevated expression of ER stress pathway genes and their downstream pro-apoptosis genes, and downregulated expression of anti-apoptotic genes. These results manifest that subacute Cd exposure mediates Th1 polarization to promote ER stress-induced porcine hepatocyte apoptosis via regulating miR-369-TNFα. These results not only provide a basis for the enrichment of Cd toxicology but also support a theoretical foundation for the prevention and therapy of Cd poisoning. Schematic diagram illustrating the proposed mechanism of subacute cadmium exposure modulates Th1 polarization to trigger ER stress-induced porcine hepatocyte apoptosis via regulation of miR-369-TNFα axis.

A novel long-term intravenous combined with local treatment with human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells for a multidisciplinary rescued uremic calciphylaxis patient and the underlying mechanism

Calciphylaxis is a rare disease characterized histologically by microvessel calcification and microthrombosis, with high mortality and no proven therapy. Here, we reported a severe uremic calciphylaxis patient with progressive skin ischemia, large areas of painful malodorous ulcers, and mummified legs. Because of the worsening symptoms and signs refractory to conventional therapies, treatment with human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) was approved. Pre-clinical release inspections of hAMSCs, efficacy, and safety assessment including cytokine secretory ability, immunocompetence, tumorigenicity, and genetics analysis in vitro were introduced. We further performed acute and long-term hAMSC toxicity evaluations in C57BL/6 mice and rats, abnormal immune response tests in C57BL/6 mice, and tumorigenicity tests in neonatal Balbc-nu nude mice. After the pre-clinical research, the patient was treated with hAMSCs by intravenous and local intramuscular injection and external supernatant application to the ulcers. When followed up to 15 months, the blood-based markers of bone and mineral metabolism improved, with skin soft tissue regeneration and a more favorable profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Skin biopsy after 1-month treatment showed vascular regeneration with mature non-calcified vessels within the dermis, and 20 months later, the re-epithelialization restored the integrity of the damaged site. No infusion or local treatment-related adverse events occurred. Thus, this novel long-term intravenous combined with local treatment with hAMSCs warrants further investigation as a potential regenerative treatment for uremic calciphylaxis with effects of inhibiting vascular calcification, stimulating angiogenesis and myogenesis, anti-inflammatory and immune modulation, multi-differentiation, re-epithelialization, and restoration of integrity.

The functions of CD4 T-helper lymphocytes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been increasingly accounted for global morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although it is partially reversible, the obstructive ventilatory schema of COPD often causes chronic inflammation that primarily affects peripheral airways, pulmonary parenchyma, and the development of lung lymphoid follicles. Among various T-helper (Th) cell types associated with COPD, Th1, Th2 and Th17 cell numbers are increased in COPD patients, whereas Treg cell number is reduced. Here, we reviewed recent advance in understanding the roles of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg in the pathogenesis of COPD and discussed the potential underlying mechanism.

miR‑29a‑3p regulates the epithelial‑mesenchymal transition via the SPARC/ERK signaling pathway in human bronchial epithelial cells

Neutrophilic asthma (NA) is a subtype of asthma that responds poorly to corticosteroid treatment. In certain diseases, microRNA (miR)‑29a‑3p is considered to be a key regulatory molecule for remodeling of the extracellular matrix. However, the effect of miR‑29a‑3p on airway remodeling is unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the role of miR‑29a‑3p in NA. A mouse model of NA was established and these animals were compared to normal controls. Both groups of mice were subjected to lung function tests and histopathological analysis. Human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) were grown in culture and incubated with secreted protein acidic rich in cysteine (SPARC) and a miR‑29a‑3p mimic. The expression of miR‑29a‑3p, SPARC and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT)‑related markers were measured using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and western blotting. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to identify the direct regulatory relationship between miR‑29a‑3p and SPARC. miR‑29a‑3p expression was significantly decreased, while SPARC expression was increased in the NA mouse model with a phenotype of EMT. Overexpression of SPARC downregulated the expression of E‑cadherin, while it increased the expression of vimentin in 16HBE cells. miR‑29a‑3p administration reversed the SPARC‑induced effects on E‑cadherin and vimentin expression. Luciferase assays confirmed that SPARC was the target gene for miR‑29a‑3p. Furthermore, SPARC overexpression increased the protein expression of phosphorylated (p)‑ERK, while transfection with miR‑29a‑3p mimics significantly inhibited this increase. The data suggested that EMT in the NA mouse model was associated with decreased levels of miR‑29a‑3p and elevated SPARC. Furthermore, SPARC could induce the formation of EMT in 16HBE cells in vitro and this was directly targeted by miR‑29a‑3p and mediated by p‑ERK, suggesting that miR‑29a‑3p may participate in the airway remodeling of NA.

LncRNA CASC2 is involved in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease via targeting miR-18a-5p/IGF1 axis

AIMS

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a systemic disease. Several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified to be aberrantly expressed in COPD patients. This study investigated the role of lncRNA cancer susceptibility candidate 2 (CASC2) in COPD, as well as its potential mechanism.

METHODS

Fifty smokers with COPD and another 50 smokers without COPD were recruited. Receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed to assess the diagnostic value of CASC2 in COPD patients. 16HBE cells were treated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE) to establish a cell model. qRT-PCR was used for the measurement of mRNA levels. The cell viability and apoptosis were detected by using Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect the levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Luciferase reporter assay was performed for the target gene analysis.

RESULTS

Serum CASC2 was dramatically decreased in COPD patients compared with smokers without COPD, and was positively associated with FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second). Serum CASC2 was overexpressed in severe COPD patients, and had the diagnostic accuracy to distinguish COPD patients from smokers. CASC2 overexpression alleviated CSE-induced apoptosis and inflammation in 16HBE cells. CASC2 functions as a ceRNA of miR-18a-5p. Upregulation of miR-18a-5p reversed the influence of CASC2 on cell apoptosis and inflammation in 16HBE cells. IGF1 was the target gene of miR-18a-5p.

CONCLUSION

CASC2 was downregulated in COPD patients and it might be a promising biomarker for the disease diagnosis. Overexpression of CASC2 might inhibit the bronchial epithelial cell apoptosis and inflammation via targeting miR-18a-5p/IGF1 axis.The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.

The Role of miRNAs in Extracellular Matrix Repair and Chronic Fibrotic Lung Diseases

The lung extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a key role in the normal architecture of the lung, from embryonic lung development to mechanical stability and elastic recoil of the breathing adult lung. The lung ECM can modulate the biophysical environment of cells through ECM stiffness, porosity, topography and insolubility. In a reciprocal interaction, lung ECM dynamics result from the synthesis, degradation and organization of ECM components by the surrounding structural and immune cells. Repeated lung injury and repair can trigger a vicious cycle of aberrant ECM protein deposition, accompanied by elevated ECM stiffness, which has a lasting effect on cell and tissue function. The processes governing the resolution of injury repair are regulated by several pathways; however, in chronic lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary disease (IPF) these processes are compromised, resulting in impaired cell function and ECM remodeling. Current estimates show that more than 60% of the human coding transcripts are regulated by miRNAs. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expressions and modulate cellular functions. This review is focused on the current knowledge of miRNAs in regulating ECM synthesis, degradation and topography by cells and their dysregulation in asthma, COPD and IPF.

The ER Stress/UPR Axis in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Cellular protein homeostasis in the lungs is constantly disrupted by recurrent exposure to various external and internal stressors, which may cause considerable protein secretion pressure on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), resulting in the survival and differentiation of these cell types to meet the increased functional demands. Cells are able to induce a highly conserved adaptive mechanism, known as the unfolded protein response (UPR), to manage such stresses. UPR dysregulation and ER stress are involved in numerous human illnesses, such as metabolic syndrome, fibrotic diseases, and neurodegeneration, and cancer. Therefore, effective and specific compounds targeting the UPR pathway are being considered as potential therapies. This review focuses on the impact of both external and internal stressors on the ER in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and discusses the role of the UPR signaling pathway activation in the control of cellular damage and specifically highlights the potential involvement of non-coding RNAs in COPD. Summaries of pathogenic mechanisms associated with the ER stress/UPR axis contributing to IPF and COPD, and promising pharmacological intervention strategies, are also presented.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Hydrolyzed Seawater Pearl Tablet (HSPT) on Th1/Th2 Functionality in a Mice Model of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Induced by Cigarette Smoke

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is predicted to become the third leading cause of death around the world. The present study is designed to investigate whether hydrolyzed seawater pearl tablet (HSPT) has immunoregulatory effects on the Th1/Th2 functionality in cigarette smoke-induced COPD model mice. The determination of the amino acid composition of HSPT was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with precolumn phenylisothiocyanate (PITC) derivatization. COPD model mice were constructed by cigarette smoking (CS) treatment and HSPT was administered. HSPT inhibited the infiltration of inflammation in the airway of the lung, reduced influx of eosinophils (EOSs), lymphocytes (LYMs), neutrophils (NEUs), and macrophages (MACs) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), decreased the levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 in the serum and lung, and decreased the expression of aforementioned cytokines in the spleen and lung in CS-treated mice. Besides, HSPT also had the ability to reduce the amount of CD3⁺CD4⁺ T cells and modulate the Th1/Th2 balance. Taken together, this study supports the consensus that CS is a critical factor to induce and aggravate COPD. HSPT could regulate the balance of Th1/Th2 in CS-induced COPD model mice, indicating its effects on inhibiting the development of COPD.

P53 in the impaired lungs

Our laboratory is focused on investigating the supportive role of P53 towards the maintenance of lung homeostasis. Acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, bronchial asthma, pulmonary arterial hypertension, pneumonia and tuberculosis are respiratory pathologies, associated with dysfunctions of this endothelium defender (P53). Herein we review the evolving role of P53 towards the aforementioned inflammatory disorders, to potentially reveal new therapeutic possibilities in pulmonary disease.

MicroRNA-mediated regulation of Nrf2 signaling pathway: Implications in disease therapy and protection against oxidative stress

MicroRNAs (miRs) are small non-coding pieces of RNA that are involved in a variety of physiologic processes such as apoptosis, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, cell cycle and cell survival. These multifunctional nucleotides are also capable of preventing oxidative damages by modulating antioxidant defense systems in a variety of milieu, such as in diabetes. Although the exact molecular mechanisms by which miRs modulate the antioxidant defense elements are unclear, some evidence suggests that they may exert these effects via nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. This intracellular mechanism is crucial in the maintenance of the physiologic redox balance by regulating the expression and activity of various cellular antioxidative defense elements and thereby plays a pivotal role in the development of oxidative stress. Any impairment in the Nrf2 signaling pathway may result in oxidative damage-dependent complications such as various diabetic complications, neurological disorders and cancer. In the current review, we discuss the modulatory effects of miRs on the Nrf2 signaling pathway, which can potentially be novel therapeutic targets.