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Xu J, Yang L, Lin T. β-sitosterol targets glucocorticoid receptor to reduce airway inflammation and remodeling in allergic asthma. Pulm Pharmacol Ther 2023; 78:102183. [PMID: 36481301 DOI: 10.1016/j.pupt.2022.102183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In most asthma patients, symptoms are controlled by treatment with glucocorticoid, but long-term or high-dose use can produce adverse effects. Therefore, it is crucial to find new therapeutic strategies. β-sitosterol could suppress type Ⅱ inflammation in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mice, but its mechanisms have remained unclear. METHODS A binding activity of β-sitosterol with glucocorticoid receptor (GR) was analyzed by molecular docking. Human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and human bronchial smooth muscle cells (HBSMC) were treated with different concentrations (0, 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 μg/mL) of β-sitosterol for suitable concentration selection. In transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 treated BEAS-2B and HBSMC, cells were treated with 20 μg/mL β-sitosterol or dexamethasone (Dex) to analyze its possible mechanism. In OVA-induced mice, 2.5 mg/kg β-sitosterol or Dex administration was performed to analyze the therapeutic mechanism of β-sitosterol. A GR antagonist RU486 was used to confirm the mechanism of β-sitosterol in the treatment of asthma. RESULTS A good binding of β-sitosterol to GR (score = -8.2 kcal/mol) was found, and the GR expression was upregulated with β-sitosterol dose increase in BEAS-2B and HBSMC. Interleukin (IL)-25 and IL-33 secretion was significantly decreased by β-sitosterol in the TGF-β1-induced BEAS-2B, and the levels of collagen 1A and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) were reduced in the TGF-β1-induced HBSMC. In the OVA-challenged mice, β-sitosterol treatment improved airway inflammation and remodeling through suppressing type Ⅱ immune response and collagen deposition. The therapeutic effects of β-sitosterol were similar to Dex treatment in vitro and in vivo. RU486 treatment clearly hampered the therapeutic effects of β-sitosterol in the TGF-β1-induced cells and OVA-induced mice. CONCLUSION This study identified that β-sitosterol binds GR to perform its functions in asthma treatment. β-sitosterol represent a potential therapeutic drug for allergic asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfeng Xu
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, 264000, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250000, China
| | - Tiantian Lin
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, 264000, China.
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Keenan CR, Radojicic D, Li M, Radwan A, Stewart AG. Heterogeneity in mechanisms influencing glucocorticoid sensitivity: the need for a systems biology approach to treatment of glucocorticoid-resistant inflammation. Pharmacol Ther 2015; 150:81-93. [PMID: 25596317 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) have impressive anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects and show a diversity of actions across a variety of cell phenotypes. Implicit in efforts to optimize GCs as anti-inflammatory agents for any or all indications is the notion that the relevant mechanism(s) of action of GCs are fully elucidated. However, recent advances in understanding GC signalling mechanisms have revealed remarkable complexity and contextual dependence, calling into question whether the mechanisms of action are sufficiently well-described to embark on optimization. In the current review, we address evidence for differences in the mechanism of action in different cell types and contexts, and discuss contrasts in mechanisms of glucocorticoid insensitivity, with a focus on asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Given this complexity, we consider the potential breadth of impact and selectivity of strategies directed to reversing the glucocorticoid insensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine R Keenan
- Lung Health Research Centre, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Danica Radojicic
- Lung Health Research Centre, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Meina Li
- Lung Health Research Centre, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Asmaa Radwan
- Lung Health Research Centre, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Alastair G Stewart
- Lung Health Research Centre, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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Benes J, Tomankova H, Novakova M, Rohan Z, Kvetnansky R, Myslivecek J. Corticotropin-releasing hormone affects short immobilization stress-induced changes in lung cytosolic and membrane glucocorticoid binding sites. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2013; 33:503-11. [PMID: 23430272 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-013-9916-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids act via glucocorticoid receptors (GR), typically localized in the cytosol (cGR). Rapid action is probably mediated via membrane receptors (mGR). In corticotropin-releasing hormone knockouts (CRH-KO), basal plasma glucocorticoid levels do differ from wild type levels (WT), but are approximately ten times lower during exposure to immobilization stress (IMMO) in comparison to WT. We tested the following hypotheses: (1) the mice lung tissue GR basal numbers would not be changed in CRH-KO (because of similar glucocorticoid levels), (2) the number of GR would be changed in WT but not in KO during short (30, 90, and 120 min) IMMO (because of higher increase of glucocorticoid levels in WT). The basal levels of cGR were not changed in CRH-KO (compared to WT), while mGR were significantly lower (62 %) in CRH-KO. In WT, there was the only decrease (to 32 %) in cGR after 120 min when we also found an increase in mGR in WT (to 201 %). In CRH-KO, IMMO caused gradual decrease in cGR (to 52 % after 30 min, to 46 % after 90 min, and to 32 % after 120 min). In CRH-KO, the only increase in mGR appeared already at 30 min of IMMO. These data suggest, on the contrary to our hypotheses, that CRH-KO are more susceptible to GR changes in early phases of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Benes
- Institute of Physiology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Albertov 5, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic
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MacRedmond RE, Singhera GK, Wadsworth SJ, Attridge S, Bahzad M, Williams K, Coxson HO, White SR, Dorscheid DR. Fluticasone Induces Epithelial Injury and Alters Barrier Function in Normal Subjects. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 5. [PMID: 25324978 PMCID: PMC4196246 DOI: 10.4172/2157-7536.1000134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Objective The airway epithelium has a number of roles pivotal to the pathogenesis of asthma, including provision of a physical and immune barrier to the inhaled environment. Dysregulated injury and repair responses in asthma result in loss of airway epithelial integrity. Inhaled corticosteroids are a corner stone of asthma treatment. While effective in controlling asthma symptoms, they fail to prevent airway remodeling. Direct cytopathic effects on the airway epithelium may contribute to this. Methods This study examined the effects of a 4-week treatment regimen of inhaled fluticasone 500 μg twice daily in healthy human subjects. Induced sputum was collected for cell counts and markers of inflammation. Barrier function was examined by diethylenetriaminepentacetic acid (DTPA) clearance measured by nuclear scintillation scan, and albumin concentration in induced sputum. Results Steroid exposure resulted in epithelial injury as measured by a significant increase in the number of airway epithelial cells in induced sputum. There was no change in airway inflammation by induced sputum inflammatory cell counts or cytokine levels. Epithelial shedding was associated with an increase in barrier function, as measured by both a decrease in DTPA clearance and decreased albumin in induced sputum. This likely reflects the normal repair response. Conclusion Inhaled corticosteroids cause injury to normal airway epithelium. These effects warrant further evaluation in asthma, where the dysregulated repair response may contribute to airway remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth E MacRedmond
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Gurpreet K Singhera
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Samuel J Wadsworth
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Susan Attridge
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Mohammed Bahzad
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Kristy Williams
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Harvey O Coxson
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Steven R White
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Delbert R Dorscheid
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Boero S, Silvestri M, Ullmann N, Rossi GA. Modulation by flunisolide of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced stimulation of airway epithelial cell activities related to eosinophil inflammation. J Asthma 2010; 47:381-7. [PMID: 20528590 DOI: 10.3109/02770901003759410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, a proinflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of asthma, displays multiple functions on a variety of cells, including bronchial epithelial cells (BECs). OBJECTIVE To characterize in vitro changes induced by TNF-alpha on the function of BECs that may be related to eosinophilic inflammation and to evaluate their modulation by an inhaled corticosteroid, flunisolide. METHODS A normal human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) was incubated with TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml) to evaluate (a) intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 expression and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin (IL)-5 release by BEAS-2B; (b) eosinophil adhesion to BEAS-2B; and (c) the modulation of these activities by flunisolide (0.1 to 10 microM). RESULTS Stimulation of BEAS-2 with TNF-alpha generated an increase in ICAM-1 expression (p = .0012), in GM-CSF and IL-5 release (p < .01), and in eosinophil adhesion to BEAS-2B, but this latter effect did not reach statistical significance. Flunisolide at all the tested concentrations effectively inhibited ICAM-1 expression and GM-CSF and IL-5 release (p < .05). The percent inhibition induced by the highest flunisolide concentration (10 muM) for the various BEAS-2B functions was 30%, 60%, and 70%, respectively. The effect of flunisolide appeared to be related to an inhibition of "TNF-alpha-induced" ICAM-1 expression and cytokine release with little or no involvement of the "constitutive" expression and release. CONCLUSION An increase in ICAM-1 expression in BECs was found to be induced by TNF-alpha and associated with enhancement of the constitutive secretion of GM-CSF and IL-5, cytokines related to eosinophilic inflammation. The ability of flunisolide to modulate these BECs activities appears to be mostly related to the inhibition of the "TNF-alpha-induced" responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Boero
- Pulmonary Diseases Unit, G. Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
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Stellato C. Glucocorticoid actions on airway epithelial responses in immunity: functional outcomes and molecular targets. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2008; 120:1247-63; quiz 1264-5. [PMID: 18073120 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2007.10.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2007] [Revised: 10/26/2007] [Accepted: 10/29/2007] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Research on the biology of airway epithelium in the last decades has progressively uncovered the many roles of this cell type during the immune response. Far from the early view of the epithelial layer simply as a passive barrier, the airway epithelium is now considered a central player in mucosal immunity, providing innate mechanisms of first-line host defense as well as facilitating adaptive immune responses. Alterations of the epithelial phenotype are primarily involved in the pathogenesis of allergic airways disease, particularly in severe asthma. Appreciation of the epithelium as target of glucocorticoid therapy has also grown, because of studies defining the pathways and mediators affected by glucocorticoids, and studies illustrating the relevance of the control of the response from epithelium in the overall efficacy of topical and systemic therapy with glucocorticoids. Studies of the mechanism of action of glucocorticoids within the biology of the immune response of the epithelium have uncovered mechanisms of gene regulation involving both transcriptional and posttranscriptional events. The view of epithelium as therapeutic target therefore has plenty of room to evolve, as new knowledge on the role of epithelium in immunity is established and novel pathways mediating glucocorticoid regulation are elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana Stellato
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Donnelly LE, Newton R, Kennedy GE, Fenwick PS, Leung RHF, Ito K, Russell REK, Barnes PJ. Anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol in lung epithelial cells: molecular mechanisms. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2004; 287:L774-83. [PMID: 15180920 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00110.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 225] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Resveratrol (3,4′,5-trihydroxystilbene) is a polyphenolic stilbene found in the skins of red fruits, including grapes, that may be responsible for some of the health benefits ascribed to consumption of red wine. Resveratrol has been shown to have antioxidant properties and can act as an estrogen agonist. This study examined the anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol on human airway epithelial cells. Resveratrol and the related molecule quercetin, but not deoxyrhapontin, inhibited IL-8 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor release from A549 cells. Neither the estrogen receptor antagonist tamoxifen nor the glucocorticoid antagonist mifepristone altered the inhibitory effect of resveratrol. The mechanism of resveratrol action was investigated further using luciferase reporter genes stably transfected into A549 cells. Resveratrol and quercetin inhibited NF-κB-, activator protein-1-, and cAMP response element binding protein-dependent transcription to a greater extent than the glucocorticosteroid dexamethasone. These compounds also had no significant effect on acetylation or deacetylation of core histones. Resveratrol, but not estradiol or N-acetyl cysteine, inhibited cytokine-stimulated inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and nitrite production (IC50 = 3.6 ± 2.9 μM) in human primary airway epithelial cells. Resveratrol also inhibited granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor release (IC50 = 0.44 ± 0.17 μM), IL-8 release (IC50 = 4.7 ± 3.3 μM), and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in these cells. This study demonstrates that resveratrol and quercetin have novel nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory activity that may have applications for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise E Donnelly
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW3 6LY, UK.
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Chivers JE, Cambridge LM, Catley MC, Mak JC, Donnelly LE, Barnes PJ, Newton R. Differential effects of RU486 reveal distinct mechanisms for glucocorticoid repression of prostaglandin E2 release. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 271:4042-52. [PMID: 15479233 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.2004.04342.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In A549 pulmonary cells, the dexamethasone- and budesonide-dependent repression of interleukin-1beta-induced prostaglandin E2 release was mimicked by the steroid antagonist, RU486. Conversely, whereas dexamethasone and budesonide were highly effective inhibitors of interleukin-1beta-induced cyclooxygenase (COX)/prostaglandin E synthase (PGES) activity and COX-2 expression, RU486 (<1 microm) was a poor inhibitor, but was able to efficiently antagonize the effects of dexamethasone and budesonide. In addition, both dexamethasone and RU486 repressed [3H]arachidonate release, which is consistent with an effect at the level of phospholipase A2 activity. By contrast, glucocorticoid response element-dependent transcription was unaffected by RU486 but induced by dexamethasone and budesonide, whilst dexamethasone- and budesonide-dependent repression of nuclear factor-kappaB-dependent transcription was maximally 30-40% and RU486 (<1 microm) was without significant effect. Thus, two pharmacologically distinct mechanisms of glucocorticoid-dependent repression of prostaglandin E2 release are revealed. First, glucocorticoid-dependent repression of arachidonic acid is mimicked by RU486 and, second, repression of COX/PGES is antagonized by RU486. Finally, whilst all compounds induced glucocorticoid receptor translocation, no role for glucocorticoid response element-dependent transcription is supported in these inhibitory processes and only a limited role for glucocorticoid-dependent inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB in the repression of COX-2 is indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna E Chivers
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Faculty of Medicine, London, UK
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