Fengbaisan suppresses endoplasmic reticulum stress by up-regulating SIRT1 expression to protect rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases

Molecular changes underlying pulmonary emphysema and chronic bronchitis in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An updated review

The aim of this review is to update and synthesize the molecular mechanisms that lead to the heterogeneous effect on tissue remodeling observed in the two most important clinical phenotypes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary emphysema (PE) and chronic bronchitis (CB). Clinical and experimental evidence suggests that this heterogeneous response to promote PE, CB, or both, is related to differentiated genetic, epigenetic, and molecular conditions. Specifically, a tendency toward PE could be related to a variant in the DSP gene, SIRT1 downregulation, macrophage polarization to M1, as well as the involvement of the noncanonical Wnt5A signaling pathway, among other alterations. Additionally, in advanced stages of COPD, PE development is potentiated by dysregulations in autophagy, which promotes senescence and subsequently cell apoptosis, through exacerbated inflammasome activation and release of caspases. On the other hand, CB or the pro-fibrotic phenotype could be potentiated by the downregulated activity of HDAC2, the activation of the TGF-β/Smad or Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways, macrophage polarization to M2, upregulation of TIMP-1, and/or the presence of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanism. Interestingly, the upregulated activity of MMPs, especially MMP-9, is widely involved in the development of both phenotypes. Furthermore, MMP-9 and MMP-12 enhance the severity, perpetuation, and exacerbation of COPD, as well as the development of autoimmunity in this disease.

Identification of Genes Related to Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress (ERS) in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Clinical Validation

Objective

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is key in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) incidence and progression. This study aims to identify potential ERS-related genes in COPD through bioinformatics analysis and clinical experiments.

Methods

We first obtained a COPD-related mRNA expression dataset (GSE38974) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The R software was then used to identify potential differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of COPD-related ERS (COPDERS). Subsequently, the identified DEGs were subjected to protein-protein interaction (PPI), correlation, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. Following that, qRT-PCR was used to examine the RNA expression of six ERS-related DEGs in blood samples obtained from the COPD and control groups. The genes were also subjected to microRNA analysis. Finally, a correlation analysis was performed between the DEGs and key clinical indicators.

Results

Six ERS-related DEGs (five upregulated and one downregulated) were identified based on samples drawn from 23 COPD patients and nine healthy individuals enrolled in the study. Enrichment analysis revealed multiple ERS-related pathways. The qRT-PCR and mRNA microarray bioinformatics analysis results showed consistent STC2, APAF1, BAX, and PTPN1 expressions in the COPD and control groups. Additionally, hsa-miR-485-5p was identified through microRNA prediction and DEG analysis. A correlation analysis between key genes and clinical indicators in COPD patients demonstrated that STC2 was positively and negatively correlated with eosinophil count (EOS) and lymphocyte count (LYM), respectively. On the other hand, PTPN1 showed a strong correlation with pulmonary function indicators.

Conclusion

Four COPDERS-related key genes (STC2, APAF1, BAX, and PTPN1) were identified through bioinformatics analysis and clinical validation, and the expressions of some genes exhibited a significant correlation with the selected clinical indicators. Furthermore, hsa-miR-485-5p was identified as a potential key target in COPDERS, but its precise mechanism remains unclear.

An integrated approach based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, network pharmacology, and molecular docking to study the key effective compounds and mechanism of action of Platycodi Radix in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Platycodi Radix (PR) is a valuable herb that is widely used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in clinics. However, the mechanism of action for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease remains unclear due to the lack of in vivo studies. Our study established a novel integrated strategy based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry, network pharmacology, and molecular docking to systematically analyze the tissue distribution and active compounds of PR in vivo and the therapeutic mechanism of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. First, tissue distribution studies have shown that the lung is the organ with the highest distribution of PR compounds. Subsequently, network pharmacology results showed that the tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, interleukin-17 signaling pathway, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway were the critical mechanisms of PR against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ultimately, molecular docking results showed that the key targets were stably bound to the corresponding active compounds of PR. Our study is of great significance for the screening of the key effective compounds and the study of the mechanism of action in traditional Chinese medicine and provides data to support the further development and utilization of PR.

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.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Mechanisms and Future Perspectives

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an integral organelle for maintaining protein homeostasis. Multiple factors can disrupt protein folding in the lumen of the ER, triggering ER stress and activating the unfolded protein response (UPR), which interrelates with various damage mechanisms, such as inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy. Numerous studies have linked ER stress and UPR to the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This review focuses on the mechanisms of other cellular processes triggered by UPR and summarizes drug intervention strategies targeting the UPR pathway in COPD to explore new therapeutic approaches and preventive measures for COPD.

Association of sirtuins (SIRT1-7) with lung and intestinal diseases

"Exterior-interior correlation between the lung and large intestine" is one of the important contents of traditional Chinese medicine. This theory describes the role of the lung and the intestine in association with disease treatment. The "lung-gut" axis is a modern extension of the "exterior-interior correlation between lung and large intestine" theory in TCM. Sirtuin (SIRT) is a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺)-dependent enzyme family with deacetylase properties, which is highly conserved from bacteria to humans. The sirtuin defines seven silencing regulatory proteins (SIRT1-7) in human cells. It can regulate aging, metabolism, and certain diseases. Current studies have shown that sirtuins have dual characteristics, acting as both tumor promoters and tumor inhibitors in cancers. This paper provides a comparative summary of the roles of SIRT1-7 in the intestine and lung (both inflammatory diseases and tumors), and the promoter/suppressor effects of targeting SIRT family microRNAs and modulators of inflammation or tumors. Sirtuins have great potential as drug targets for the treatment of intestinal and respiratory diseases. Meanwhile, it may provide new ideas of future drug target research.