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Yan Q, Liu Z, Chen Y, Zhang X, Zheng W, Liu X, Huang H, Liu Q, Jiang Y, Zhan S, Huang X. ITGAM-macrophage modulation as a potential strategy for treating neutrophilic Asthma: insights from bioinformatics analysis and in vivo experiments. Apoptosis 2024; 29:393-411. [PMID: 37950848 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-023-01914-5] [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] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Identification of molecular biomarkers associated with neutrophilic asthma (NA) phenotype may inform the discovery of novel pathobiological mechanisms and the development of diagnostic markers. Three mRNA transcriptome datasets extracted from induced sputum of asthma patients with various inflammatory types were used to screen for macrophage-related molecular mechanisms and targets in NA. Furthermore, the predicted targets were also validated on an independent dataset (N = 3) and animal model (N = 5). A significant increase in total cells, neutrophils and macrophages was observed in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of NA mice induced by ovalbumin/freund's adjuvant, complete (OVA/CFA). And we also found elevated levels of neutrophil and macrophage infiltration in NA subtype in external datasets. NA mice had increased secretion of IgE, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 in serum and BAL fluid. MPO, an enzyme present in neutrophils, was also highly expressed in NA mice. Then, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified 684 targets with the strongest correlation with NA, and we obtained 609 macrophage-related specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in NA by integrating macrophage-related genes. The top 10 genes with high degree values were obtained and their mRNA levels and diagnostic performance were then determined by RT-qPCR and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis. Statistically significant correlations were found between macrophages and all key targets, with the strongest correlation between ITGAM and macrophages in NA. Double-Immunofluorescence staining further confirmed the co-localization of ITGAM and F4/80 in NA. ITGAM was identified as a critical target to distinguish NA from healthy/non-NA individuals, which may provide a novel avenue to further uncover the mechanisms and therapy of NA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Yan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Lingnan Medical Research Center of Guangzhou, University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zixing Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yujing Chen
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Haikou hospital of Chinese traditional medicine, Haikou, China
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Lingnan Medical Research Center of Guangzhou, University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenjiang Zheng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaohong Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huiting Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- Shenzhen Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Shaofeng Zhan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xiufang Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- Lingnan Medical Research Center of Guangzhou, University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- Lingnan Medical Research Center of Guangzhou, University of Chinese Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Airport Road, Guangzhou, 510405, People's Republic of China.
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Zhang W, Wu Y, J Gunst S. Membrane adhesion junctions regulate airway smooth muscle phenotype and function. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:2321-2347. [PMID: 36796098 PMCID: PMC10243546 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00020.2022] [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: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The local environment surrounding airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells has profound effects on the physiological and phenotypic properties of ASM tissues. ASM is continually subjected to the mechanical forces generated during breathing and to the constituents of its surrounding extracellular milieu. The smooth muscle cells within the airways continually modulate their properties to adapt to these changing environmental influences. Smooth muscle cells connect to the extracellular cell matrix (ECM) at membrane adhesion junctions that provide mechanical coupling between smooth muscle cells within the tissue. Membrane adhesion junctions also sense local environmental signals and transduce them to cytoplasmic and nuclear signaling pathways in the ASM cell. Adhesion junctions are composed of clusters of transmembrane integrin proteins that bind to ECM proteins outside the cell and to large multiprotein complexes in the submembranous cytoplasm. Physiological conditions and stimuli from the surrounding ECM are sensed by integrin proteins and transduced by submembranous adhesion complexes to signaling pathways to the cytoskeleton and nucleus. The transmission of information between the local environment of the cells and intracellular processes enables ASM cells to rapidly adapt their physiological properties to modulating influences in their extracellular environment: mechanical and physical forces that impinge on the cell, ECM constituents, local mediators, and metabolites. The structure and molecular organization of adhesion junction complexes and the actin cytoskeleton are dynamic and constantly changing in response to environmental influences. The ability of ASM to rapidly accommodate to the ever-changing conditions and fluctuating physical forces within its local environment is essential for its normal physiological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwu Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
| | - Yidi Wu
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
| | - Susan J Gunst
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
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Identification of miRNA-mRNA-TFs regulatory network and crucial pathways involved in asthma through advanced systems biology approaches. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271262. [PMID: 36264868 PMCID: PMC9584516 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271262] [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: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthma is a life-threatening and chronic inflammatory lung disease that is posing a true global health challenge. The genetic basis of the disease is fairly well examined. However, the molecular crosstalk between microRNAs (miRNAs), target genes, and transcription factors (TFs) networks and their contribution to disease pathogenesis and progression is not well explored. Therefore, this study was aimed at dissecting the molecular network between mRNAs, miRNAs, and TFs using robust computational biology approaches. The transcriptomic data of bronchial epithelial cells of severe asthma patients and healthy controls was studied by different systems biology approaches like differentially expressed gene detection, functional enrichment, miRNA-target gene pairing, and mRNA-miRNA-TF molecular networking. We detected the differential expression of 1703 (673 up-and 1030 down-regulated) genes and 71 (41 up-and 30 down-regulated) miRNAs in the bronchial epithelial cells of asthma patients. The DEGs were found to be enriched in key pathways like IL-17 signaling (KEGG: 04657), Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation (KEGG: 04658), and the Th17 cell differentiation (KEGG: 04659) (p-values = 0.001). The results from miRNAs-target gene pairs-transcription factors (TFs) have detected the key roles of 3 miRs (miR-181a-2-3p; miR-203a-3p; miR-335-5p), 6 TFs (TFAM, FOXO1, GFI1, IRF2, SOX9, and HLF) and 32 miRNA target genes in eliciting autoimmune reactions in bronchial epithelial cells of the respiratory tract. Through systemic implementation of comprehensive system biology tools, this study has identified key miRNAs, TFs, and miRNA target gene pairs as potential tissue-based asthma biomarkers.
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Ba MA, Aiyuk A, Hernández K, Evasovic JM, Wuebbles RD, Burkin DJ, Singer CA. Transgenic overexpression of α7 integrin in smooth muscle attenuates allergen‐induced airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma. FASEB Bioadv 2022; 4:724-740. [PMID: 36349295 PMCID: PMC9635010 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2022-00050] [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: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lower airways characterized by modulation of airway smooth muscle (ASM) function. Infiltration of smooth muscle by inflammatory mediators is partially regulated by transmembrane integrins and the major smooth muscle laminin receptor α7β1 integrin plays a critical role in the maintenance of ASM phenotype. The goal of the current study was to investigate the role of α7 integrin in asthma using smooth muscle‐specific α7 integrin transgenic mice (TgSM‐Itgα7) using both acute and chronic OVA sensitization and challenge protocols that mimic mild to severe asthmatic phenotypes. Transgenic over‐expression of the α7 integrin in smooth muscle resulted in a significant decrease in airway resistance relative to controls, reduced the total number of inflammatory cells and substantially inhibited the production of crucial Th2 and Th17 cytokines in airways. This was accompanied by decreased secretion of various inflammatory chemokines such as eotaxin/CCL11, KC/CXCL3, MCP‐1/CCL2, and MIP‐1β/CCL4. Additionally, α7 integrin overexpression significantly decreased ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the lungs of TgSM‐Itgα7 mice and affected proliferative, contractile, and inflammatory downstream effectors of ERK1/2 that drive smooth muscle phenotype in the lung. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that enhanced expression of α7 integrin in vivo inhibits allergic inflammation and airway resistance. Moreover, we identify ERK1/2 as a potential target by which α7 integrin signals to regulate airway inflammation. We conclude that identification of therapeutics targeting an increase in smooth muscle α7 integrin expression could serve as a potential novel treatment for asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam A. Ba
- Department of Pharmacology University of Nevada School of Medicine Reno Nevada USA
| | - Annemarie Aiyuk
- Department of Pharmacology University of Nevada School of Medicine Reno Nevada USA
| | - Karla Hernández
- Department of Pharmacology University of Nevada School of Medicine Reno Nevada USA
| | - Jon M. Evasovic
- Department of Pharmacology University of Nevada School of Medicine Reno Nevada USA
| | - Ryan D. Wuebbles
- Department of Pharmacology University of Nevada School of Medicine Reno Nevada USA
| | - Dean J. Burkin
- Department of Pharmacology University of Nevada School of Medicine Reno Nevada USA
| | - Cherie A. Singer
- Department of Pharmacology University of Nevada School of Medicine Reno Nevada USA
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Prabhala P, Wright DB, Robbe P, Bitter C, Pera T, Ten Hacken NHT, van den Berge M, Timens W, Meurs H, Dekkers BGJ. Laminin α4 contributes to airway remodeling and inflammation in asthma. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2019; 317:L768-L777. [PMID: 31553662 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00222.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Airway inflammation and remodeling are characteristic features of asthma, with both contributing to airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and lung function limitation. Airway smooth muscle (ASM) accumulation and extracellular matrix deposition are characteristic features of airway remodeling, which may contribute to persistent AHR. Laminins containing the α2-chain contribute to characteristics of ASM remodeling in vitro and AHR in animal models of asthma. The role of other laminin chains, including the laminin α4 and α5 chains, which contribute to leukocyte migration in other diseases, is currently unknown. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of these laminin chains in ASM function and in AHR, remodeling, and inflammation in asthma. Expression of both laminin α4 and α5 was observed in the human and mouse ASM bundle. In vitro, laminin α4 was found to promote a pro-proliferative, pro-contractile, and pro-fibrotic ASM cell phenotype. In line with this, treatment with laminin α4 and α5 function-blocking antibodies reduced allergen-induced increases in ASM mass in a mouse model of allergen-induced asthma. Moreover, eosinophilic inflammation was reduced by the laminin α4 function-blocking antibody as well. Using airway biopsies from healthy subjects and asthmatic patients, we found inverse correlations between ASM α4-chain expression and lung function and AHR, whereas eosinophil numbers correlated positively with expression of laminin α4 in the ASM bundle. This study, for the first time, indicates a prominent role for laminin α4 in ASM function and in inflammation, AHR, and remodeling in asthma, whereas the role of laminin α5 is more subtle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavan Prabhala
- University of Groningen, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Pharmacy, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - David B Wright
- University of Groningen, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Pharmacy, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Patricia Robbe
- University of Groningen, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Pharmacy, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Catrin Bitter
- University of Groningen, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Pharmacy, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tonio Pera
- Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Nick H T Ten Hacken
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten van den Berge
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Wim Timens
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Herman Meurs
- University of Groningen, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Pharmacy, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bart G J Dekkers
- University of Groningen, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Pharmacy, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Groningen, The Netherlands
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