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Markel M, Tse WH, De Leon N, Jank M, Albrechtsen J, Kahnamoui Zadeh S, Patel D, Ozturk A, Lacher M, Wagner R, Keijzer R. Experimental congenital diaphragmatic hernia features an alteration of DNA sensing targets cGAS and STING. Pediatr Res 2024:10.1038/s41390-024-03277-2. [PMID: 38816442 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03277-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pathogenesis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) depends on multiple factors. Activation of the DNA-sensing cyclic-GMP-AMP-synthase (cGAS) and Stimulator-of-Interferon-Genes (STING) pathway by double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) links environmental stimuli and inflammation. We hypothesized that nitrofen exposure alters cGAS and STING in human bronchial epithelial cells and fetal rat lungs. METHODS We used the Quant-IT™-PicoGreen™ assay to assess dsDNA concentration in BEAS-2B cells after 24 h of nitrofen-exposure and performed immunofluorescence of cGAS/STING. We used nitrofen to induce CDH and harvested control and CDH lungs at embryonic day E15, E18 and E21 for cGAS/STING immunofluorescence, RT-qPCR and RNA-Scope™ in-situ-hybridization (E18, E21). RESULTS We found a higher concentration of dsDNA following nitrofen treatment. Nitrofen-exposure to BEAS-2B cells increased cGAS and STING protein abundance. cGAS abundance was higher in nitrofen lungs at E15, E18 and E21. RNA-Scope in-situ-hybridization showed higher cGAS and STING expression in E18 and E21 lungs. RT-qPCR revealed higher mRNA expression levels of STING in E21 nitrofen-induced lungs. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that nitrofen-exposure increases dsDNA content which leads to stimulation of the cGAS/STING pathway in human BEAS-2B cells and the nitrofen rat model of CDH. Consequently, DNA sensing and the cGAS-STING-pathway potentially contribute to abnormal lung development in CDH. IMPACT STATEMENT We found an alteration of DNA sensing targets cGAS and STING in human BEAS-2B cells and experimental congenital diaphragmatic hernia with higher protein abundance and mRNA expression in cells and lung sections of nitrofen-treated rat pups. This is the first study to investigate DNA sensing, a potential link between environmental stimuli and inflammation, in experimental CDH. Our study extends the knowledge on the pathogenesis of experimental CDH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Markel
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Departments of Surgery, Pediatrics & Child Health and Physiology & Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, and Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Wai Hei Tse
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Departments of Surgery, Pediatrics & Child Health and Physiology & Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, and Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Nolan De Leon
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Departments of Surgery, Pediatrics & Child Health and Physiology & Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, and Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Marietta Jank
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Departments of Surgery, Pediatrics & Child Health and Physiology & Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, and Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jaida Albrechtsen
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Departments of Surgery, Pediatrics & Child Health and Physiology & Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, and Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Shana Kahnamoui Zadeh
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Departments of Surgery, Pediatrics & Child Health and Physiology & Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, and Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Daywin Patel
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Departments of Surgery, Pediatrics & Child Health and Physiology & Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, and Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Arzu Ozturk
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Departments of Surgery, Pediatrics & Child Health and Physiology & Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, and Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Martin Lacher
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Richard Wagner
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Richard Keijzer
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Departments of Surgery, Pediatrics & Child Health and Physiology & Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, and Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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Pham AT, Oliveira AC, Albanna M, Alvarez-Castanon J, Dupee Z, Patel D, Fu C, Mukhsinova L, Nguyen A, Jin L, Bryant AJ. Non-Interferon-Dependent Role of STING Signaling in Pulmonary Hypertension. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:124-142. [PMID: 37942608 PMCID: PMC10872846 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.320121] [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: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with constitutive activation of DNA-sensing pathway through stimulator of IFN (interferon) genes (STING), such as those with STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy, develop pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, the role of STING signaling in general PH patients is heretofore undescribed. Here, we seek to investigate the role of STING in PH development. METHODS STING expression in patient lung samples was examined. PH was induced in global STING-deficient mice and global type I IFN receptor 1-deficient mice using bleomycin or chronic hypoxia exposure. PH development was evaluated by right ventricular systolic pressure and Fulton index, with additional histological and flow cytometric analysis. VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) expression on murine immune cells was quantified and evaluated with multiplex and flow cytometry. Human myeloid-derived cells were differentiated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and treated with either STING agonist or STING antagonist for evaluation of VEGF secretion. RESULTS Global STING deficiency protects mice from PH development, and STING-associated PH seems independent of type I IFN signaling. Furthermore, a role for STING-VEGF signaling pathway in PH development was demonstrated, with altered VEGF secretion in murine pulmonary infiltrated myeloid cells in a STING-dependent manner. In addition, pharmacological manipulation of STING in human myeloid-derived cells supports in vivo findings. Finally, a potential role of STING-VEGF-mediated apoptosis in disease development and progression was illustrated, providing a roadmap toward potential therapeutic applications. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these data provide concrete evidence of STING involvement in PH, establishing biological plausibility for STING-related therapies in PH treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann T Pham
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville
| | - Aline C Oliveira
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville
| | - Muhammad Albanna
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville
| | | | - Zadia Dupee
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville
| | - Diya Patel
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville
| | - Chunhua Fu
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville
| | - Laylo Mukhsinova
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville
| | - Amy Nguyen
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville
| | - Lei Jin
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville
| | - Andrew J Bryant
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville
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Maarman GJ. Reviewing the suitability of mitochondrial transplantation as therapeutic approach for pulmonary hypertension in the era of personalised medicine. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2022; 322:L641-L646. [PMID: 35318860 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00484.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a fatal disease, defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥ 25 mm Hg. It is caused, in part, by mitochondrial dysfunction. Among the various biological therapies proposed to rescue mitochondrial dysfunction, evidence going back as far as 2009, suggests that mitochondrial transplantation is an alternative. Although scant, recent PH findings and other literature supports a role for mitochondrial transplantation as a therapeutic approach in the context of PH. In experimental models of PH, it confers beneficial effects that include reduced pulmonary vasoconstriction, reduced pulmonary vascular remodelling, and improved right ventricular function. It also reduces the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. However, first, we must understand that more research is needed before mitochondrial transplantation can be considered an effective therapy in the clinical setting, as many of the mechanisms or potential long-term risks are still unknown. Second, the current challenges of mitochondrial transplantation are surmountable and should not deter researchers from further investigating its effectiveness and trying to overcome these challenges in creative ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald J Maarman
- CARMA: Centre for Cardio-Metabolic Research in Africa, Division of Medical Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
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