Nebulized Inhalation of Anti-Nerve Growth Factor Microspheres Inhibits Airway Remodeling in an Ovalbumin-Induced Rat Asthma Model

Long-Acting Strategies for Antibody Drugs: Structural Modification, Controlling Release, and Changing the Administration Route

Because of their high specificity, high affinity, and targeting, antibody drugs have been widely used in the treatment of many diseases and have become the most favored new drugs for research in the world. However, some antibody drugs (such as small-molecule antibody fragments) have a short half-life and need to be administered frequently, and are often associated with injection-site reactions and local toxicities during use. Increasing attention has been paid to the development of antibody drugs that are long-acting and have fewer side effects. This paper reviews existing strategies to achieve long-acting antibody drugs, including modification of the drug structure, the application of drug delivery systems, and changing their administration route. Among these, microspheres have been studied extensively regarding their excellent tolerance at the injection site, controllable loading and release of drugs, and good material safety. Subcutaneous injection is favored by most patients because it can be quickly self-administered. Subcutaneous injection of microspheres is expected to become the focus of developing long-lasting antibody drug strategies in the near future.

Neuroimmunology and Allergic Disease

The prevalence of allergic diseases is rising globally, inducing heavy quality of life and economic burdens. Allergic reactions are mediated by the complex bi-directional cross-talk between immune and nervous systems that we are only beginning to understand. Here, we discuss our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of how this cross-talk occurs in the skin, gut, and lungs. An improved understanding of the communication between the immune and nervous system may lead to the development of novel therapies for allergic diseases.

Cucurbitacin E ameliorates airway remodelling by inhibiting nerve growth factor expression in nicotine-treated bronchial epithelial cells and mice: The key role of let-7c-5p up-regulated expression

Cucurbitacin E (CuE) shows potential to handle airway remodelling. In the current study, the effects of CuE on nicotine-induced airway remodelling were explored by focussing on its interaction with let-7c-5p/NGF axis. The potential microRNA (miR) as the therapeutic target for CuE treatment was determined using a microarray assay. Changes in viability, inflammation and let-7c-5p/NGF pathway in nicotine-treated bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) were detected under CuE treatment (5 μM). The pathways were manipulated with let-7c-5p inhibitor. Mice were subjected to nicotine treatment and handled with CuE. Changes in pulmonary function and structure were detected. Based on the microarray data, let-7c-5p was selected as the therapeutic target. Viability and inflammation of BECs were induced by nicotine and then restored by CuE. At molecular level, nicotine suppressed let-7c-5p while induced NGF, FN1 and COLIA levels. The effects of CuE were counteracted by let-7c-5p inhibition. In a mouse model, nicotine impaired the function and structure of lung, which was attenuated by CuE and then re-impaired by let-7c-5p antagomir. Collectively, CuE protected against nicotine-induced airway remodelling and partially depended on the induction of let-7c-5p; our future work would pay more attention to other downstream effectors of the miR to promote the treatment of nicotine-induced pulmonary disorders.

Anti-angiogenic Properties of Bevacizumab Improve Respiratory System Inflammation in Ovalbumin-Induced Rat Model of Asthma

Studies on the bronchial vascular bed have revealed that the number of blood vessels in the lamina propria and under the mucosa of the lung tissue increases in patients suffering from mild to severe asthma. Thus, in this study, a new strategy was employed in respiratory system disorders by angiogenesis inhibition in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced rat model of asthma. Twenty-one male Wistar albino rats, 8 weeks old, were randomly divided into three groups (n = 7 in each group), including (1) control group, (2) OVA-treated group, and (3) OVA + Bmab (bevacizumab drug). On days 1 and 8, 1 mg of OVA and aluminum hydroxide in sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) were intraperitoneally injected to rats in groups 2 and 3. The control group was only subject to intraperitoneal injection of saline on days 1 and 8. One week after the last injection, the rats (groups 2 and 3) were exposed to OVA inhalation for 30 min at 2-day intervals from days 15 to 25. After sensitization and challenge with OVA, the OVA + Bmab group (group 3) were treated with a 5 mg/kg bevacizumab drug. Genes and protein expression of IL-1β and TNF-α and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein were assessed by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively, in lung tissue. OVA exposure increased mucosal secretion and inflammatory cell populations in lung tissue and OVA-specific IgE level in serum. Also, VEGF and cytokine factor expression were significantly elevated in the OVA-induced asthma model (p ≤ 0.05). However, rats in OVA + Bmab group showed significantly a decrease in VEGF and IL-1β and TNF-α genes as well as proteins (p ≤ 0.05). The results showed that bevacizumab efficiently diminished bronchial inflammation via downregulation of VEGF expression, followed by inflammatory cells population and cytokines reduction. Angiogenesis inhibition in rats with induced asthma not only suppresses the inflammatory process through blocking VEGF expression but also inhibits the development of new blood vessels and progressing asthmatic attacks.

Nerve Growth Factor: A Potential Therapeutic Target for Lung Diseases

The lungs play a very important role in the human respiratory system. However, many factors can destroy the structure of the lung, causing several lung diseases and, often, serious damage to people's health. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a polypeptide which is widely expressed in lung tissues. Under different microenvironments, NGF participates in the occurrence and development of lung diseases by changing protein expression levels and mediating cell function. In this review, we summarize the functions of NGF as well as some potential underlying mechanisms in pulmonary fibrosis (PF), coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), pulmonary hypertension (PH), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. Furthermore, we highlight that anti-NGF may be used in future therapeutic strategies.

Bevacizumab regulates inflammatory cytokines and inhibits VEGFR2 signaling pathway in an ovalbumin-induced rat model of airway hypersensitivity

BACKGROUND

Bevacizumab with anti-angiogenesis properties reduces the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level and has widely been used to treat various diseases such as lung diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study, therefore, aimed to consider the effects of bevacizumab on VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and lung inflammation of the ovalbumin-induced rat model of airway hypersensitivity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-one male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 7 in each group): (1) control, (2) ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized, and (3) OVA-sensitized with bevacizumab (OVA + Bmab). Groups 2 and 3 were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide on days 1, 8 and challenged with OVA on day 15 by atomization for 10 days (inhalation). After OVA sensitization, the OVA + Bmab was treated with bevacizumab for 2 weeks. VEGFR2 was semiquantitatively analyzed in the lungs by immunohistochemistry. VEGF was measured in the lung tissue by ELISA method. The mRNA of IL-10 and IL-6 lung tissue were measured by real-time PCR.

RESULTS

Ovalbumin exposure promoted the expression of VEGF and resulted in inflammatory factors overexpression (p ≤ 0.05). However, rats in OVA + Bmab group showed significantly a decrease in VEGFR2 and IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, and an increase in IL-10 (p ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results show that bevacizumab efficiently diminishes bronchial inflammation via reducing the expression of VEGFR2, and IL-6 genes and enhancing the expression of IL-10 gene. Hence, bevacizumab could be considered as a potential candidate drug to control pathological conditions relevant to airway hypersensitivity.

Mycobacterium vaccae nebulization protects Balb/c mice against bronchial asthma through neural mechanisms

OBJECTIVES

Bronchial asthma can be effectively controlled but not be cured, its etiology and pathogenesis are still unclear, and there are no effective preventive measures. The key characteristic of asthma is chronic airway inflammation, and recent research has found that airway neurogenic inflammation plays an important role in asthma. We previously found that Mycobacterium vaccae nebulization protects against asthma. Therefore, this objective of this study is to explore the effect of M. vaccae nebulization on asthmatic neural mechanisms.

METHODS

A total 18 of female Balb/c mice were randomized into normal, asthma control, and M. vaccae nebulization (Neb.group) groups, and mice in the Neb.group were nebulized with M. vaccae one month before the asthmatic model was established. Then, 1 month later, the mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin. Twenty-four hours after the last challenge, mouse airway responsiveness; pulmonary brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), neurofilament-medium length (NF-M, using NF09 antibody), and acetylcholine expression; and nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA level were determined.

RESULTS

We found that the BDNF, NF09, acetylcholine expression, and NGF mRNA level were decreased in the Neb.group compared with levels in the asthma control group.

CONCLUSION

M. vaccae nebulization may protected in Balb/c mice against bronchial asthma through neural mechanisms.