Therapeutic potential of BLT1 antagonist for COPD: involvement of inducing autophagy and ameliorating inflammation

Eupatilin inhibits pulmonary fibrosis by activating Sestrin2/PI3K/Akt/mTOR dependent autophagy pathway

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive chronic inflammatory disease with poor clinical outcomes and ineffective drug treatment options. Eupatilin is a major component extracted from the traditional herbal medicine Artemisia asiatica Nakai. Notably, it was demonstrated to have an anti-fibrosis effect in endometrial fibrosis, vocal fold, and hepatic fibrosis. Its role and mechanism in IPF remain unclear.

METHODS

This study used the TGF-β1-induced human embryonic lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) activation, IPF lung fibroblasts, and bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis mice model. Western blot, immunofluorescence staining, quantitative real time-PCR, hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the effects of eupatilin on fibroblast activation, pulmonary fibrosis, and autophagy. The autophagosomes were observed with a transmission electron microscope (TEM). RNA sequencing was used to determine the signaling pathway and key regulator related to autophagy.

RESULTS

Eupatilin significantly decreased the expression of Col1A1, fibronectin, α-SMA, and SQSTM1/p62. In contrast, it increased the expression of LC3B II/I and the number of autophagosomes in TGF-β1 treated MRC-5, IPF lung fibroblasts, and bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis mice model; it also alleviated bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. The KEGG pathway mapping displayed that PI3K/Akt and Sestrin2 were associated with the enhanced fibrogenic process. Eupatilin suppressed the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR. Autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and Akt activator SC-79 abrogated the anti-fibrotic effect of eupatilin. Sestrin2 expression was also downregulated in TGF-β1 treated lung fibroblasts and lung tissues of the bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis mice model. Furthermore, eupatilin promoted Sestrin2 expression, and the knockdown of Sestrin2 significantly aggravated the degree of fibrosis, increased the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and decreased autophagy.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that eupatilin ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis through Sestrin2/PI3K/Akt/mTOR-dependent autophagy pathway.

Exploration of potential mechanism of interleukin-33 up-regulation caused by 1,4-naphthoquinone black carbon in RAW264.7 cells

BACKGROUND

As air pollution has been paid more attention to by public in recent years, effects and mechanism in particulate matter-triggered health problems become a focus of research. Lysosomes and mitochondria play an important role in regulation of inflammation. Interleukin-33 (IL-33) has been proved to promote inflammation in our previous studies. In this research, macrophage cell line RAW264.7 was used to explore the potential mechanism of upregulation of IL-33 induced by 1,4-naphthoquinone black carbon (1,4-NQ-BC), and to explore changes of lysosomes and mitochondria during the process.

RESULTS

50 μg/mL 1,4-NQ-BC exposure for 24 h dramatically increased expression of IL-33 in RAW264.7 cells. Lysosomal membrane permeability was damaged by 1,4-NQ-BC treatment, and higher mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS level were induced by 1,4-NQ-BC. The results of proteomics suggested that expression of ferritin light chain was increased after cells were challenged with 1,4-NQ-BC, and it was verified by Western blot. Meanwhile, expressions of p62 and LC3B-II were increased by 50 μg/mL 1,4-NQ-BC in RAW264.7 cells. Ultimately, expression of IL-33 could return to same level as control in cells treated with 50 μg/mL 1,4-NQ-BC and 50 μM deferoxamine combined.

CONCLUSIONS

1,4-NQ-BC induces IL-33 upregulation in RAW264.7 cells, and it is responsible for higher lysosomal membrane permeability and ROS level, lower mitochondrial membrane potential, and inhibition of autophagy. Ferritin light chain possibly plays an important role in the upregulation of IL-33 evoked by 1,4-NQ-BC.

The Multifaceted Roles of Autophagy in Infectious, Obstructive, and Malignant Airway Diseases

Autophagy is a highly conserved dynamic process by which cells deliver their contents to lysosomes for degradation, thus ensuring cell homeostasis. In response to environmental stress, the induction of autophagy is crucial for cell survival. The dysregulation of this degradative process has been implicated in a wide range of pathologies, including lung diseases, representing a relevant potential target with significant clinical outcomes. During lung disease progression and infections, autophagy may exert both protective and harmful effects on cells. In this review, we will explore the implications of autophagy and its selective forms in several lung infections, such as SARS-CoV-2, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infections, and different lung diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis (CF), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and Malignant Mesothelioma (MM).

Effect of erythromycin on the ultrastructure of human macrophages exposed to cigarette smoke extract in vitro

Macrophages serve an active role in the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Erythromycin (EM) has been verified as an effective treatment for COPD. However, there are few studies on the effect of EM on the ultrastructure of macrophages exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE). In the present study, human macrophages were randomly divided into three groups: The control, CSE and the CSE+EM group, using electron microscopy, the effect of EM was evaluated by comparing the ultrastructural changes between these groups. The macrophages were additionally divided into a further four groups: The control, CSE, CSE+EM 24 h and CSE+EM 48 h groups. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in each group was evaluated by detecting fluorescence intensity. It was observed that the cellular ultrastructure of the CSE group exhibited abnormal changes, though this effect was reversed back to the level of the control in the CSE+EM group. Compared with the control group, the ROS expression level was significantly increased in the CSE group (P < .05); however, compared with the CSE group, the ROS concentration was decreased in the CSE+EM 24 h (P < .05) and CSE+EM 48 h groups (P < .05), though this was more apparent in the EM 48 h group. It was concluded that EM protects human macrophages against CSE. Moreover, it was hypothesized that EM may reduce the symptoms of patients with COPD by protecting the macrophage ultrastructure from the effects of CSE, resulting in the decreased generation of ROS, inhibiting autophagy and reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Vitamin D3 decreases TNF-α-induced inflammation in lung epithelial cells through a reduction in mitochondrial fission and mitophagy

Previous work has shown an association between vitamin D₃ deficiency and an increased risk for acquiring various inflammatory diseases. Vitamin D₃ can reduce morbidity and mortality in these patients via different mechanisms. Lung inflammation is an important event in the initiation and development of respiratory disorders. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin D₃ and the underlying mechanisms remained to be determined. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects and mechanisms of action of vitamin D₃ (Vit. D) on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in vitro and in vivo with or without tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) treatment. Pretreatment with Vit. D reduced the expression of ICAM-1 and leukocyte adhesion in TNF-α-treated A549 cells. TNF-α increased the accumulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS), while Vit. D reduced this effect. Pretreatment with Vit. D attenuated TNF-α-induced mitochondrial fission, as shown by the increased expression of mitochondrial fission factor (Mff), phosphorylated dynamin-related protein 1 (p-DRP1), and mitophagy-related proteins (BCL2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa protein-interacting protein 3, Bnip3) in A549 cells. Inhibition of DRP1 or Mff significantly decreased ICAM-1 expression. In addition, we found that Vit. D decreased TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression, mitochondrial fission, and mitophagy via the AKT and NF-κB pathways. Moreover, ICAM-1 expression, mitochondrial fission, and mitophagy were increased in the lung tissues of TNF-α-treated mice, while Vit. D supplementation reduced these effects. In this study, we elucidated the mechanisms by which Vit. D reduces the expression of adhesion molecules in models of airway inflammation. Vit. D might be served as a novel therapeutic agent for the targeting of epithelial activation in lung inflammation.

Silica dust exposure induces pulmonary fibrosis through autophagy signaling

Silicosis is a well-acknowledged occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of a large amount of free silica dust during the production period and eventually a considerable negative impact on the patients' quality of life. Autophagy exerts a critical influence on immune and inflammatory responses during the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, we sought to determine whether autophagy is involved in silicosis's pathogenesis and how it may affect pulmonary cellular physiology. In the animal experiments, we found persistent activation of autophagy in the development of pulmonary fibrosis, which was also accompanied by tumor necrosis factor and transforming growth factor expression increased. Therefore, the autophagy signaling pathway may regulate the inflammatory response and affect the progression of fibrosis. Further, in vitro experiments, we used LY294002, RAPA, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) intervened autophagy. Our results showed that PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway is involved in the autophagy changed mediated by SiO₂ exposed, and autophagy might play a protective role in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Additionally, NAC's effect is not apparent on SiO₂ -mediated autophagy through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, but it can reduce the inflammatory response on NR8383 cells mediated by SiO2-exposed. Nevertheless, it's interesting that NAC can reduce the inflammatory response on NR8383 cells mediated by SiO₂ -exposed. Taken together, our data demonstrated that SiO₂ -exposed can induce pulmonary fibrosis along with autophagy both in vivo and in vitro, NAC could alleviate the inflammatory response NR8383 cells by SiO₂ -exposed through non PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, and the specific mechanism of its action needs further studying.

Up-regulating microRNA-138-5p enhances the protective role of dexmedetomidine on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury mice via down-regulating Ltb4r1

Both microRNAs (miRs) and dexmedetomidine (Dex) have been verified to exert functional roles in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MI/RI). Given that, we concretely aim to discuss the effects of Dex and miR-138-5p on ventricular remodeling in mice affected by MI/RI via mediating leukotriene B4 receptor 1 (Ltb4r1). MI/RI mouse model was established by ligating left anterior descending coronary artery. The cardiac function, inflammatory factors and collagen fiber contents were detected after Dex/miR-138-5p/Ltb4r1 treatment. MiR-138-5p and Ltb4r1 expression in myocardial tissues were tested by RT-qPCR and western blot assay. The target relationship between miR-138-5p and Ltb4r1 was verified by online software prediction and luciferase activity assay. MiR-138-5p was down-regulated while Ltb4r1 was up-regulated in myocardial tissues of MI/RI mice. Dex improved cardiac function, alleviated myocardial damage, reduced inflammatory factor contents, collagen fibers, and Ltb4r1 expression while increased miR-138-5p expression in myocardial tissues of mice with MI/RI. Restored miR-138-5p and depleted Ltb4r1 improved cardiac function, abated inflammatory factor contents, myocardial damage, and content of collagen fibers in MI/RI mice. MiR-138-5p directly targeted Ltb4r1. The work evidence that Dex could ameliorate ventricular remodeling of MI/RI mice by up-regulating miR-138-3p and down-regulating Ltb4r1. Thus, Dex and miR-138-3p/Ltb4r1 may serve as potential targets for the ventricular remodeling of MI/RI.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Treatment and Pharmacist-Led Medication Management

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death across the globe. Its repeated exacerbation will seriously worsen the quality of life, aggravate the patients’ symptoms, and bring a heavy burden on the patients and the society. Understanding the current status of drug therapy and the role of pharmaceutical care is essential for the management of COPD. In addition to the drugs already on the market, recent clinical trials also show that emerging novel drugs for treating COPD are being developed to prevent the symptoms, reduce the frequency of acute exacerbation, and improve the quality of life. Recent progress in new drug research should lead to novel treatment options for COPD patients in future clinical practice. The pharmaceutical care has shown significantly favourable impacts on addressing drug-related problems, supporting its vital role in the management of COPD, especially when there are a wide range of therapeutic agents. This review not only provides an overview of current treatment strategies but also further underlines the importance of new drug development and pharmaceutical care for patients with COPD.

Association Between Serum S100A8/S100A9 Heterodimer and Pulmonary Function in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

BACKGROUND

Many studies have indicated that S100A8 and S100A9 may be involved in the development and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there has been no clinical study analyzing the role of the serum S100A8/S100A9 heterodimer in COPD patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation of the serum S100A8/S100A9 heterodimer with pulmonary function in COPD patients during acute exacerbation (AE-COPD) based on a cross-sectional study.

METHODS

A total of 131 AE-COPD patients and matched healthy subjects were recruited. Pulmonary function, arterial blood gas values, and serum inflammatory cytokines were measured.

RESULTS

Serum S100A8/S100A9 was increased in AE-COPD patients. AE-COPD patients were ranked into different grades based on FEV1%. Serum S100A8/S100A9 was higher in Grade 4 than in Grade 1-2 and Grade 3 patients with AE-COPD. Univariate regression analysis found that serum S100A8/S100A9 was negatively correlated with FEV1% in AE-COPD patients. Furthermore, serum S100A8/S100A9 was positively associated with MCP-1 in AE-COPD patients. Further stratified analysis revealed that serum S100A8/S100A9 was negatively associated with FEV1/FVC in Grade 3 (OR 0.629, P < 0.05) and in Grade 4 (OR 0.347, P < 0.05). In addition, there was a positive relationship between serum S100A8/S100A9 and PaCO2 in Grade 3 (OR 1.532, P < 0.05) and Grade 4 (OR 1.925, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

S100A8/S100A9 was negatively associated with pulmonary function in AE-COPD patients, indicating that the serum S100A8/S100A9 heterodimer may be involved in the progression of AE-COPD, and may be a relevant serum biomarker in the diagnosis for AE-COPD.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Proprioception Exercises as an Addition to the Rehabilitation Process

Respiratory rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is recognized as a cornerstone for the therapeutic path. Physiotherapy involves physical activity with aerobic and anaerobic exercises, which can improve the patient's symptomatic picture, such as motor function, emotional status (depression and anxiety), and improve the pain perception. The training of proprioception is not included in the structure of the exercises proposed by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). The training of proprioception is a very useful strategy for stimulating the cerebellum, a neurological suffering area in patients with COPD. The cerebellum sorts information about pain and emotions, as well as motor stimuli. The article discusses the need to introduce proprioception in respiratory rehabilitation protocols, highlighting the neurological relationships with the management of comorbidities.