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Roger I, Montero P, Milara J, Cortijo J. Pirfenidone and nintedanib attenuates pulmonary artery endothelial and smooth muscle cells transformations induced by IL-11. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 972:176547. [PMID: 38561103 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) associated to pulmonary hypertension (PH) portends a poor prognosis, characterized by lung parenchyma fibrosis and pulmonary artery remodeling. Serum and parenchyma levels of Interleukin 11 (IL-11) are elevated in IPF-PH patients and contributes to pulmonary artery remodeling and PH. However, the effect of current approved therapies against IPF in pulmonary artery remodeling induced by IL-11 is unknown. The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of nintedanib and pirfenidone on pulmonary artery endothelial and smooth muscle cell remodeling induced by IL-11 in vitro. Our results show that nintedanib (NTD) and pirfenidone (PFD) ameliorates endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EnMT), pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell to myofibroblast-like transformation and pulmonary remodeling in precision lung cut slices. This study provided also evidence of the inhibitory effect of PFD and NTD on IL-11-induced endothelial and muscle cells proliferation and senescence. The inhibitory effect of these drugs on monocyte arrest and angiogenesis was also studied. Finally, we observed that IL-11 induced canonical signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and non-canonical mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation, but, PFD and NTD only inhibited ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Therefore, this study provided evidence of the inhibitory effect of NTD and PFD on markers of pulmonary artery remodeling induced by IL-11.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Roger
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Health Institute Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain; Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Paula Montero
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Health Institute Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain; Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Javier Milara
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Health Institute Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain; Pharmacy Unit, University General Hospital Consortium, 46014, Valencia, Spain
| | - Julio Cortijo
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Health Institute Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain; Research and Teaching Unit, University General Hospital Consortium, 46014, Valencia, Spain
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Fu J, Feng Y, Sun Y, Yi R, Tian J, Zhao W, Sun D, Zhang C. A Multi-Drug Concentration Gradient Mixing Chip: A Novel Platform for High-Throughput Drug Combination Screening. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:212. [PMID: 38785686 PMCID: PMC11117479 DOI: 10.3390/bios14050212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Combinatorial drug therapy has emerged as a critically important strategy in medical research and patient treatment and involves the use of multiple drugs in concert to achieve a synergistic effect. This approach can enhance therapeutic efficacy while simultaneously mitigating adverse side effects. However, the process of identifying optimal drug combinations, including their compositions and dosages, is often a complex, costly, and time-intensive endeavor. To surmount these hurdles, we propose a novel microfluidic device capable of simultaneously generating multiple drug concentration gradients across an interlinked array of culture chambers. This innovative setup allows for the real-time monitoring of live cell responses. With minimal effort, researchers can now explore the concentration-dependent effects of single-agent and combination drug therapies. Taking neural stem cells (NSCs) as a case study, we examined the impacts of various growth factors-epithelial growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-on the differentiation of NSCs. Our findings indicate that an overdose of any single growth factor leads to an upsurge in the proportion of differentiated NSCs. Interestingly, the regulatory effects of these growth factors can be modulated by the introduction of additional growth factors, whether singly or in combination. Notably, a reduced concentration of these additional factors resulted in a decreased number of differentiated NSCs. Our results affirm that the successful application of this microfluidic device for the generation of multi-drug concentration gradients has substantial potential to revolutionize drug combination screening. This advancement promises to streamline the process and accelerate the discovery of effective therapeutic drug combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahao Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
| | - Yibo Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
| | - Yu Sun
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China (R.Y.)
| | - Ruiya Yi
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China (R.Y.)
| | - Jing Tian
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China (R.Y.)
- Huaxin Microfish Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Taicang 215400, China
- Center for Automated and Innovative Drug Discovery, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
| | - Dan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
- Huaxin Microfish Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Taicang 215400, China
- Center for Automated and Innovative Drug Discovery, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
| | - Ce Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
- Huaxin Microfish Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Taicang 215400, China
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Nakamura Y, Shimizu Y, Fujimaki-Shiraishi M, Uchida N, Takemasa A, Niho S. A Protective Effect of Pirfenidone in Lung Fibroblast-Endothelial Cell Network via Inhibition of Rho-Kinase Activity. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2259. [PMID: 37626755 PMCID: PMC10452915 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis is a life-threatening disease that has been attributed to several causes. Specifically, vascular injury is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. The effects of the antifibrotic drug pirfenidone on angiogenesis have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of pirfenidone in human lung fibroblast-endothelial cell co-culture network formation and to analyze the underlying molecular mechanisms. Human lung fibroblasts were co-cultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells to establish a co-culture network cell sheet. The influence of pirfenidone was evaluated for protective effect on the endothelial network in cell sheets stimulated with transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). Results indicated that TGF-β disrupted the network formation. Pirfenidone and Y27632 (Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase [Rho-kinase or ROCK] inhibitor) protected against the TGF-β-induced endothelial network disruption. TGF-β activated Rho-kinase signaling in cells composing the co-culture cell sheet, whereas pirfenidone and Y27632 inhibited these effects. In conclusion, TGF-β-induced Rho-kinase activation and disrupted endothelial network formation. Pirfenidone suppressed TGF-β-induced Rho-kinase activity in cell sheets, thereby enabling vascular endothelial cells networks to be preserved in the cell sheets. These findings suggest that pirfenidone has potential vascular network-preserving effect via inhibiting Rho-kinase activity in vascular injury, which is a precursor to pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yasuo Shimizu
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu 321-0293, Tochigi, Japan; (Y.N.); (M.F.-S.); (N.U.); (A.T.); (S.N.)
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Fließer E, Lins T, Berg JL, Kolb M, Kwapiszewska G. The endothelium in lung fibrosis: a core signaling hub in disease pathogenesis? Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2023; 325:C2-C16. [PMID: 37184232 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00097.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive chronic lung disease characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) and structural destruction, associated with a severe 5-year mortality rate. The onset of the disease is thought to be triggered by chronic damage to the alveolar epithelium. Since the pulmonary endothelium is an important component of the alveolar-capillary niche, it is also affected by the initial injury. In addition to ensuring proper gas exchange, the endothelium has critical functional properties, including regulation of vascular tone, inflammatory responses, coagulation, and maintenance of vascular homeostasis and integrity. Recent single-cell analyses have shown that shifts in endothelial cell (EC) subtypes occur in PF. Furthermore, the increased vascular remodeling associated with PF leads to deteriorated outcomes for patients, underscoring the importance of the vascular bed in PF. To date, the causes and consequences of endothelial and vascular involvement in lung fibrosis are poorly understood. Therefore, it is of great importance to investigate the involvement of EC and the vascular system in the pathogenesis of the disease. In this review, we will outline the current knowledge on the role of the pulmonary vasculature in PF, in terms of abnormal cellular interactions, hyperinflammation, vascular barrier disorders, and an altered basement membrane composition. Finally, we will summarize recent advances in extensive therapeutic research and discuss the significant value of novel therapies targeting the endothelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Fließer
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research, Graz, Austria
| | - Thomas Lins
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research, Graz, Austria
| | - Johannes Lorenz Berg
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research, Graz, Austria
- Otto Loewi Research Center, Division of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Martin Kolb
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Research Institute at St Joseph's Healthcare, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Grazyna Kwapiszewska
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research, Graz, Austria
- Otto Loewi Research Center, Division of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Institute for Lung Health, Member of the German Lung Center (DZL), Cardiopulmonary Institute (CPI), Giessen, Germany
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Wei X, Gao M, Sheng N, Yao W, Bao B, Cheng F, Cao Y, Yan H, Zhang L, Shan M, Chen P. Mechanism investigation of Shi-Xiao-San in treating blood stasis syndrome based on network pharmacology, molecular docking and in vitro/vivo pharmacological validation. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 301:115746. [PMID: 36179951 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Shixiao San (SXS) is a traditional Chinese formula that has been widely used in clinical practice to treat blood stasis syndromes, such as hyperlipidemia, atherosclerotic, thrombosis and coronary heart disease. However, the effectiveness and mechanism of SXS have not been studied in detail yet. AIM OF THE STUDY Current study aimed to identify the compounds in SXS, evaluate the formula efficacies using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and verify the pharmacological effects by in vivo and in vitro experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS The compounds in SXS were analyzed using UPLC-QTOF-MS. Potential target genes for identified compounds were obtained from three databases. DAVID database was used to perform GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. PPI network was constructed to screen core targets. Molecular docking was used to examine interactions between active compounds and potential targets. The mechanism was also verified by model of acute blood stasis rats and human umbilical vein cells. RESULTS In total, 45 compounds were identified from SXS. Among the detected phytochemicals, quercetin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, D-catechin, naringenin and amentoflavone were identified as the active constituents. SXS is primarily involved in the modulation of hypoxic state, vascular regulation, and inflammation response, according to GO and KGG pathway enrichment analysis. A network of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) was constructed and five core targets were identified as VEGFA, AKT1, EGFR, PTGS2, and MMP9. Molecular docking simulation revealed good binding affinity of the five putative targets with the corresponding compounds. SXS reduced HIF-1α and COX-2 levels and increased the eNOS expression levels in hypoxic HUVECs. SXS can reduce the whole blood viscosity in adrenaline induced acute blood stasis rats and relieve blood stasis. CONCLUSIONS SXS removes blood stasis might through VEGFA/AKT/eNOS/COX-2 pathway and flavonoids are the main active components in the formula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Wei
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Mingliang Gao
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Nian Sheng
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Weifeng Yao
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Beihua Bao
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Fangfang Cheng
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yudan Cao
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Hui Yan
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Mingqiu Shan
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Peidong Chen
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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