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Greenberger JS, Hou W, Shields D, Fisher R, Epperly MW, Sarkaria I, Wipf P, Wang H. SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Induces Oxidative Stress and Senescence in Mouse and Human Lung. In Vivo 2024; 38:1546-1556. [PMID: 38936937 PMCID: PMC11215613 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.13605] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM There is concern that people who had COVID-19 will develop pulmonary fibrosis. Using mouse models, we compared pulmonary inflammation following injection of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) to radiation-induced inflammation to demonstrate similarities between the two models. SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) induces inflammatory cytokines and stress responses, which are also common to ionizing irradiation-induced acute pulmonary damage. Cellular senescence, which is a late effect following exposure to SARS-CoV-2 as well as radiation, was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated the effect of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein compared to ionizing irradiation in K18-hACE2 mouse lung, human lung cell lines, and in freshly explanted human lung. We measured reactive oxygen species, DNA double-strand breaks, stimulation of transforming growth factor-beta pathways, and cellular senescence following exposure to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, irradiation or SARS-COV-2 and irradiation. We also measured the effects of the antioxidant radiation mitigator MMS350 following irradiation or exposure to SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induced reactive oxygen species, DNA double-strand breaks, transforming growth factor-β signaling pathways, and senescence, which were exacerbated by prior or subsequent ionizing irradiation. The water-soluble radiation countermeasure, MMS350, reduced spike protein-induced changes. CONCLUSION In both the SARS-Co-2 and the irradiation mouse models, similar responses were seen indicating that irradiation or exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus may lead to similar lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis. Combination of irradiation and SARS-CoV-2 may result in a more severe case of pulmonary fibrosis. Cellular senescence may explain some of the late effects of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and to ionizing irradiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel S Greenberger
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.;
| | - Wen Hou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A
| | - Donna Shields
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A
| | - Renee Fisher
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A
| | - Michael W Epperly
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A
| | - Inderpal Sarkaria
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, UPMC-Shadyside, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A
| | - Peter Wipf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A
| | - Hong Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A
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Yao F, Xu M, Dong L, Shen X, Shen Y, Jiang Y, Zhu T, Zhang C, Yu G. Sinomenine attenuates pulmonary fibrosis by downregulating TGF-β1/Smad3, PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways. BMC Pulm Med 2024; 24:229. [PMID: 38730387 PMCID: PMC11088103 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-03050-5] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since COVID-19 became a global epidemic disease in 2019, pulmonary fibrosis (PF) has become more prevalent among persons with severe infections, with IPF being the most prevalent form. In traditional Chinese medicine, various disorders are treated using Sinomenine (SIN). The SIN's strategy for PF defense is unclear. METHODS Bleomycin (BLM) was used to induce PF, after which inflammatory factors, lung histological alterations, and the TGF-/Smad signaling pathway were assessed. By administering various dosages of SIN and the TGF- receptor inhibitor SB-431,542 to human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HFL-1) and A549 cells, we were able to examine proliferation and migration as well as the signaling molecules implicated in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and Extra-Cellular Matrix (ECM). RESULTS In vivo, SIN reduced the pathological changes in the lung tissue induced by BLM, reduced the abnormal expression of inflammatory cytokines, and improved the weight and survival rate of mice. In vitro, SIN inhibited the migration and proliferation by inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad3, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB pathways, prevented the myofibroblasts (FMT) of HFL-1, reversed the EMT of A549 cells, restored the balance of matrix metalloenzymes, and reduced the expression of ECM proteins. CONCLUSION SIN attenuated PF by down-regulating TGF-β/Smad3, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB signaling pathways, being a potential effective drug in the treatment of PF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuqiang Yao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Minghao Xu
- School of Medicine, ShaoXing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lingjun Dong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiao Shen
- School of Medicine, ShaoXing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yujie Shen
- School of Medicine, ShaoXing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yisheng Jiang
- School of Medicine, ShaoXing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ting Zhu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chu Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guangmao Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China.
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Jiang M, Wu W, Xiong Z, Yu X, Ye Z, Wu Z. Targeting autophagy drug discovery: Targets, indications and development trends. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 267:116117. [PMID: 38295689 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116117] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Autophagy plays a vital role in sustaining cellular homeostasis and its alterations have been implicated in the etiology of many diseases. Drugs development targeting autophagy began decades ago and hundreds of agents were developed, some of which are licensed for the clinical usage. However, no existing intervention specifically aimed at modulating autophagy is available. The obstacles that prevent drug developments come from the complexity of the actual impact of autophagy regulators in disease scenarios. With the development and application of new technologies, several promising categories of compounds for autophagy-based therapy have emerged in recent years. In this paper, the autophagy-targeted drugs based on their targets at various hierarchical sites of the autophagic signaling network, e.g., the upstream and downstream of the autophagosome and the autophagic components with enzyme activities are reviewed and analyzed respectively, with special attention paid to those at preclinical or clinical trials. The drugs tailored to specific autophagy alone and combination with drugs/adjuvant therapies widely used in clinical for various diseases treatments are also emphasized. The emerging drug design and development targeting selective autophagy receptors (SARs) and their related proteins, which would be expected to arrest or reverse the progression of disease in various cancers, inflammation, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disorders, are critically reviewed. And the challenges and perspective in clinically developing autophagy-targeted drugs and possible combinations with other medicine are considered in the review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjia Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, China Jiliang University, China
| | - Wayne Wu
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, USA
| | - Zijie Xiong
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, China Jiliang University, China
| | - Xiaoping Yu
- Department of Biology, China Jiliang University, China
| | - Zihong Ye
- Department of Biology, China Jiliang University, China
| | - Zhiping Wu
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, China Jiliang University, China.
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4
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Zhang B, Xi Y, Huang Y, Zhang Y, Guo F, Yang H. Integration of single-nucleus RNA sequencing and network disturbance to elucidate crosstalk between multicomponent drugs and trigeminal ganglia cells in migraine. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 319:117286. [PMID: 37838292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Migraine is caused by hyperactivity of the trigeminovascular system, where trigeminal ganglia (TG) plays an important role. TG is composed of multiple neuronal and non-neuronal cell types, which is related to "neuro-inflammation-vascular" disorder in migraine. Tou Tong Ning capsule (TTNC), a CFDA-approved traditional Chinese medicine for treating migraine, has the characteristics of "multicomponents, multitargets, multipathways". AIM OF THE STUDY To clarify the mechanism of TTNC and elucidate crosstalk between multicomponent drugs and neuronal and non-neuronal functions and cells in migraine. MATERIALS AND METHODS We integrated single-nucleus RNA sequencing and a quantitative evaluation algorithm of the disturbance of multitarget drugs on the disease network and explored the specific pathology of migraine and corresponding compounds. A cerebrovascular smooth muscle spasmolytic activity experiment was carried out to verify the results of the bioinformatics analysis. RESULTS TTNC exhibited its regulation activities in neuronal and non-neuronal aspects based on drugs attack to four subnetworks and cell specific networks, which explored the MoA of TTNC in comprehensive and refined perspectives. Compared to neuronal regulation, TTNC showed more significant attack score on non-neuronal biological function (smooth muscle and vessel). And TTNC compound clusters C1, C6 and C7, targeting non-neuronal function and cells, had larger group area than C10, C4 and C6 for neuronal function and cell, which implied that TTNC may mainly regulate the non-neuronal function, e.g., vessel smooth muscle contraction. Contraction of cerebrovascular smooth muscle of mice ex vivo confirmed the vasodilation activity of TTNC and active compounds from C1, C6, C9 (Emodin, Luteolin and Levistilide A). Literature mining confirmed the vasospasmodolytic activity and neuroprotective effect of TTNC. CONCLUSIONS The study found that TTNC may primarily alleviate non-neuronal functional disorders in migraine by relaxing cerebral vascular smooth muscle cell spasm to alleviate migraine. Integrating single-nucleus RNA sequencing data and network disturbance tools provides a new strategy for the pharmacological mechanism of multicomponent drugs through cell subtyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yujie Xi
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Basic Research on Prevention and Treatment for Major Diseases, Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Huang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Basic Research on Prevention and Treatment for Major Diseases, Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Feifei Guo
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Hongjun Yang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Basic Research on Prevention and Treatment for Major Diseases, Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Perez-Favila A, Garza-Veloz I, Hernandez-Marquez LDS, Gutierrez-Vela EF, Flores-Morales V, Martinez-Fierro ML. Antifibrotic Drugs against Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Pulmonary Fibrosis Induced by COVID-19: Therapeutic Approaches and Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1562. [PMID: 38338840 PMCID: PMC10855955 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031562] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the health and economy of the global population. Even after recovery from the disease, post-COVID-19 symptoms, such as pulmonary fibrosis, continue to be a concern. This narrative review aims to address pulmonary fibrosis (PF) from various perspectives, including the fibrotic mechanisms involved in idiopathic and COVID-19-induced pulmonary fibrosis. On the other hand, we also discuss the current therapeutic drugs in use, as well as those undergoing clinical or preclinical evaluation. Additionally, this article will address various biomarkers with usefulness for PF prediction, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and severity assessment in order to provide better treatment strategies for patients with this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Margarita L. Martinez-Fierro
- Doctorado en Ciencias con Orientación en Medicina Molecular, Unidad Académica de Medicina Humana y CS, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico; (A.P.-F.); (I.G.-V.); (L.d.S.H.-M.); (E.F.G.-V.); (V.F.-M.)
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Zeyada MS, Eraky SM, El-Shishtawy MM. Trigonelline mitigates bleomycin-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis: Insight into NLRP3 inflammasome and SPHK1/S1P/Hippo signaling modulation. Life Sci 2024; 336:122272. [PMID: 37981228 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122272] [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: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic interstitial lung disease with an increasing incidence following the COVID-19 outbreak. Pirfenidone (Pirf), an FDA-approved pulmonary anti-fibrotic drug, is poorly tolerated and exhibits limited efficacy. Trigonelline (Trig) is a natural plant alkaloid with diverse pharmacological actions. We investigated the underlying prophylactic and therapeutic mechanisms of Trig in ameliorating bleomycin (BLM)-induced PF and the possible synergistic antifibrotic activity of Pirf via its combination with Trig. MATERIALS AND METHODS A single dose of BLM was administered intratracheally to male Sprague-Dawley rats for PF induction. In the prophylactic study, Trig was given orally 3 days before BLM and then for 28 days. In the therapeutic study, Trig and/or Pirf were given orally from day 8 after BLM until the 28th day. Biochemical assay, histopathology, qRT-PCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry were performed on lung tissues. KEY FINDINGS Trig prophylactically and therapeutically mitigated the inflammatory process via targeting NF-κB/NLRP3/IL-1β signaling. Trig activated the autophagy process which in turn attenuated alveolar epithelial cells apoptosis and senescence. Remarkably, Trig attenuated lung SPHK1/S1P axis and its downstream Hippo targets, YAP-1, and TAZ, with a parallel decrease in YAP/TAZ profibrotic genes. Interestingly, Trig upregulated lung miR-375 and miR-27a expression. Consequently, epithelial-mesenchymal transition in lung tissues was reversed upon Trig administration. These results were simultaneously associated with profound improvement in lung histological alterations. SIGNIFICANCE The current study verifies Trig's prophylactic and antifibrotic effects against BLM-induced PF via targeting multiple signaling. Trig and Pirf combination may be a promising approach to synergize Pirf antifibrotic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menna S Zeyada
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Salma M Eraky
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Mamdouh M El-Shishtawy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
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7
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Ezz Eldeen N, Moustafa YM, Alwaili MA, Alrehaili AA, Khodeer DM. Synergistic Power of Piceatannol and/or Vitamin D in Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis In Vivo: A Preliminary Study. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2647. [PMID: 37893021 PMCID: PMC10604873 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress and epigenetic alterations, including the overexpression of all class I and II histone deacetylases (HDACs), particularly HDAC2 and HDAC4, have been identified as key molecular mechanisms driving pulmonary fibrosis. Treatment with piceatannol (PIC) or vitamin D (Vit D) has previously exhibited mitigating impacts in pulmonary fibrosis models. The present study investigated the effects of PIC, Vit D, or a combination (PIC-Vit D) on the expression of HDAC2, HDAC4, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) in the lungs; the phosphatidylinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway; and the antioxidant status of the lungs. The objective was to determine if the treatments had protective mechanisms against pulmonary fibrosis caused by bleomycin (BLM) in rats. Adult male albino rats were given a single intratracheal dosage of BLM (10 mg/kg) to induce pulmonary fibrosis. PIC (15 mg/kg/day, oral (p.o.)), Vit D (0.5 μg/kg/day, intraperitoneal (i.p.)), or PIC-Vit D (15 mg/kg/day, p.o. plus 0.5 μg/kg/day, i.p.) were given the day following BLM instillation and maintained for 14 days. The results showed that PIC, Vit D, and PIC-Vit D significantly improved the histopathological sections; downregulated the expression of HDAC2, HDAC4, and TGF-β in the lungs; inhibited the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway; decreased extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition including collagen type I and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA); and increased the antioxidant capacity of the lungs by increasing the levels of glutathione (GSH) that had been reduced and decreasing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) compared with the BLM group at a p-value less than 0.05. The concomitant administration of PIC and Vit D had a synergistic impact that was greater than the impact of monotherapy with either PIC or Vit D. PIC, Vit D, and PIC-Vit D exhibited a notable protective effect through their antioxidant effects, modulation of the expression of HDAC2, HDAC4, and TGF-β in the lungs, and suppression of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nehal Ezz Eldeen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Yasser M. Moustafa
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Maha Abdullah Alwaili
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amani A. Alrehaili
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dina M. Khodeer
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
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Kim Y, Yang HI, Kim KS. Etiology and Pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis-Interstitial Lung Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14509. [PMID: 37833957 PMCID: PMC10572849 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914509] [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: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most serious extra-articular complications of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which increases the mortality of RA. Because the pathogenesis of RA-ILD remains poorly understood, appropriate therapeutic strategies and biomarkers have not yet been identified. Thus, the goal of this review was to summarize and analyze the reported data on the etiology and pathogenesis of RA-ILD. The incidence of RA-ILD increases with age, and is also generally higher in men than in women and in patients with specific genetic variations and ethnicity. Lifestyle factors associated with an increased risk of RA-ILD include smoking and exposure to pollutants. The presence of an anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, high RA disease activity, and rheumatoid factor positivity also increase the risk of RA-ILD. We also explored the roles of biological processes (e.g., fibroblast-myofibroblast transition, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and immunological processes), signaling pathways (e.g., JAK/STAT and PI3K/Akt), and the histopathology of RA involved in RA-ILD pathogenesis based on published preclinical and clinical models of RA-ILD in animal and human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yerin Kim
- Department of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, Gangneung 25601, Republic of Korea;
| | - Hyung-In Yang
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul 05278, Republic of Korea;
| | - Kyoung-Soo Kim
- East-West Bone & Joint Disease Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul 05278, Republic of Korea
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
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Wang Z, Song XQ, Xu W, Lei S, Zhang H, Yang L. Stand Up to Stand Out: Natural Dietary Polyphenols Curcumin, Resveratrol, and Gossypol as Potential Therapeutic Candidates against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection. Nutrients 2023; 15:3885. [PMID: 37764669 PMCID: PMC10535599 DOI: 10.3390/nu15183885] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has stimulated collaborative drug discovery efforts in academia and the industry with the aim of developing therapies and vaccines that target SARS-CoV-2. Several novel therapies have been approved and deployed in the last three years. However, their clinical application has revealed limitations due to the rapid emergence of viral variants. Therefore, the development of next-generation SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic agents with a high potency and safety profile remains a high priority for global health. Increasing awareness of the "back to nature" approach for improving human health has prompted renewed interest in natural products, especially dietary polyphenols, as an additional therapeutic strategy to treat SARS-CoV-2 patients, owing to its good safety profile, exceptional nutritional value, health-promoting benefits (including potential antiviral properties), affordability, and availability. Herein, we describe the biological properties and pleiotropic molecular mechanisms of dietary polyphenols curcumin, resveratrol, and gossypol as inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants as observed in in vitro and in vivo studies. Based on the advantages and disadvantages of dietary polyphenols and to obtain maximal benefits, several strategies such as nanotechnology (e.g., curcumin-incorporated nanofibrous membranes with antibacterial-antiviral ability), lead optimization (e.g., a methylated analog of curcumin), combination therapies (e.g., a specific combination of plant extracts and micronutrients), and broad-spectrum activities (e.g., gossypol broadly inhibits coronaviruses) have also been emphasized as positive factors in the facilitation of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug development to support effective long-term pandemic management and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonglei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Green Natural Products and Pharmaceutical Intermediates in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China; (W.X.); (S.L.); (H.Z.)
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus, Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xian-qing Song
- General Surgery Department, Baoan Central Hospital, Affiliated Baoan Central Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Wenjing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Green Natural Products and Pharmaceutical Intermediates in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China; (W.X.); (S.L.); (H.Z.)
| | - Shizeng Lei
- Key Laboratory of Green Natural Products and Pharmaceutical Intermediates in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China; (W.X.); (S.L.); (H.Z.)
| | - Hao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Green Natural Products and Pharmaceutical Intermediates in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China; (W.X.); (S.L.); (H.Z.)
| | - Liyan Yang
- School of Physics and Physical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China
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Ren Y, Wu Y, He W, Tian Y, Zhao X. SMOC2 plays a role in heart failure via regulating TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway-mediated autophagy. Open Med (Wars) 2023; 18:20230752. [PMID: 37465345 PMCID: PMC10350896 DOI: 10.1515/med-2023-0752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is a major global cause of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to elucidate the role of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine-related modular calcium-binding protein 2 (SMOC2) in HF development and its underlying mechanism. Using a rat HF model, SMOC2 expression was examined and then knocked down via transfection to assess its impact on cardiac function and damage. The study also evaluated the effects of SMOC2 knockdown on autophagy-related molecules and the transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)/SMAD family member 3 (Smad3) signaling pathway. Intraperitoneal injection of the TGF-β agonist (SRI-011381) into the HF rat model was performed to explore the SMOC2-TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway relationship. SMOC2 expression was elevated in HF rats, while its downregulation improved cardiac function and damage. SMOC2 knockdown reversed alterations in the LC3-II/I ratio, Beclin-1, and p62 levels in HF rats. Through transmission electron microscope, we observed that SMOC2 knockdown restored autophagosome levels. Furthermore, SMOC2 downregulation inhibited the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway, which was counteracted by SRI-011381. In conclusion, SMOC2 knockdown inhibits HF development by modulating TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling-mediated autophagy, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for HF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ren
- Scientific Research Department, Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, 010017, China
| | - Yun Wu
- Cardiology Department, Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, 010017, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center in Cardiovascular Diseases, Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, 010017, China
| | - Wenshuai He
- Cardiology Department, Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, 010017, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center in Cardiovascular Diseases, Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, 010017, China
| | - Yingjie Tian
- Cardiology Department, Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, 010017, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center in Cardiovascular Diseases, Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, 010017, China
| | - Xingsheng Zhao
- Cardiology Department, Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, 010017, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center in Cardiovascular Diseases, Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, 010017, China
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Xie M, Yang L, Cheng J, Qu H, Gu Y, Ding C, Xu X, Zhao C, Huang X, Wang L. Gracillin relieves pulmonary fibrosis by suppressing the STAT3 axis. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023:116704. [PMID: 37257706 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a persistent and refractory illness accompanied by inflammation and fibrosis. Gracillin, a natural steroidal saponin, is one of the components of Dioscorea quinqueloba which has been used in herbal medicines for treating some inflammatory diseases. Therefore, it may be a potential drug candidate for PF management. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aims to elucidate and verify the anti-pulmonary fibrosis effect of gracillin. METHODS We established an in vivo model of PF by treatment of mice with bleomycin (BLM) and an in vitro model by treatment of NIH-3T3 cells with TGF-β1. Pathological changes to the structure of lung tissue, pulmonary function, inflammatory exudation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and deposition of collagen were detected in vivo, and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and migration were evaluated in vitro. The significance of gracillin on STAT3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation were evaluated by western blotting, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assays. The STAT3 transcriptional activity was quantified with a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Recovery experiments were performed by plasmid-directed overexpression of STAT3. RESULTS We found that gracillin could improve pulmonary function, reduce lung inflammation and mitigate collagen deposition to ameliorate BLM-induced PF in mice. Gracillin also suppressed TGF-β1-induced increases in ECM deposition biomarkers, including COL1A1, fibronectin, α-SMA, N-cad and vimentin, and repressed migration in NIH-3T3 cells. Additionally, gracillin suppressed the phosphorylation, nuclear translocation and transcriptional action of STAT3. Furthermore, the decreased ECM deposition and migration upon gracillin treatment were abrogated upon overexpression of STAT3 in NIH-3T3 cells. CONCLUSIONS Gracillin protects against PF by inhibiting the STAT3 axis, providing a safe and efficacious approach to treating PF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyao Xie
- Pulmonary Division, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Interdiscipline and Translational Medicine, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Heart and Lung, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Lehe Yang
- Pulmonary Division, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Interdiscipline and Translational Medicine, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Heart and Lung, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Jiayun Cheng
- The Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Hongyan Qu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Yanting Gu
- Pulmonary Division, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Interdiscipline and Translational Medicine, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Heart and Lung, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Cheng Ding
- Pulmonary Division, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Interdiscipline and Translational Medicine, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Heart and Lung, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Xiaomei Xu
- Pulmonary Division, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Interdiscipline and Translational Medicine, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Heart and Lung, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Chengguang Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Xiaoying Huang
- Pulmonary Division, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Interdiscipline and Translational Medicine, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Heart and Lung, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China.
| | - Liangxing Wang
- Pulmonary Division, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Interdiscipline and Translational Medicine, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Heart and Lung, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China.
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Bitzer S, Harati MD, Kasmi KCE, Schloesser D, Sauer J, Olbrich H, Schuler M, Gantner F, Heilker R. Application of human iPSC-derived macrophages in a miniaturized high-content-imaging-based efferocytosis assay. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2023:S2472-5552(23)00030-8. [PMID: 37072070 DOI: 10.1016/j.slasd.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Macrophages play a pivotal role in drug discovery due to their key regulatory functions in health and disease. Overcoming the limited availability and donor variability of human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs), human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived macrophages (IDMs) could provide a promising tool for both disease modeling and drug discovery. To access large numbers of model cells for medium- to high-throughput application purposes, an upscaled protocol was established for differentiation of iPSCs into progenitor cells and subsequent maturation into functional macrophages. These IDM cells resembled MDMs both with respect to surface marker expression and phago- as well as efferocytotic function. A statistically robust high-content-imaging assay was developed to quantify the efferocytosis rate of IDMs and MDMs allowing for measurements both in the 384- and 1536-well microplate format. Validating the applicability of the assay, inhibitors of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) were shown to modulate efferocytosis in IDMs and MDMs with comparable pharmacology. The miniaturized cellular assay with the upscaled provision of macrophages opens new routes to pharmaceutical drug discovery in the context of efferocytosis-modulating substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Bitzer
- Departments of Drug Discovery Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Mozhgan Dehghan Harati
- Departments of Drug Discovery Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Karim C El Kasmi
- Department of Immunology and Respiratory Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 900 Ridgebury Rd., Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877, United States
| | - Daniela Schloesser
- Departments of Immunology and Respiratory Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Julia Sauer
- Departments of Immunology and Respiratory Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Heiko Olbrich
- Departments of Drug Discovery Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Michael Schuler
- Departments of Drug Discovery Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Florian Gantner
- Department of Translational Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, C. H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG, 88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Ralf Heilker
- Departments of Drug Discovery Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany.
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Huo R, Huang X, Yang Y, Yang Y, Lin J. Potential of resveratrol in the treatment of interstitial lung disease. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1139460. [PMID: 37089962 PMCID: PMC10117935 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1139460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by lung injury caused by lung fibroblast proliferation, interstitial inflammation, and fibrosis. Different cell signal transduction pathways are activated in response to various proinflammatory or fibrotic cytokines, such as IL-6, and these cytokines are increased in different ILDs. The overexpressed cytokines and growth factors in ILD can activate TGF-β/Smad2/3/4, NF-κB, and JAK/STAT signal transduction pathways, promote the activation of immune cells, increase the release of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic factors, differentiate fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, and promote the occurrence and development of ILD. This finding suggests the importance of signal transduction pathways in patients with ILD. Recent evidence suggests that resveratrol (RSV) attenuates excessive inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad2/3/4, NF-κB, and JAK/STAT signal transduction pathways and overactivation of immune cells. In this review, advances in lung protection and the underlying mechanisms of RSV are summarized, and the potential efficacy of RSV as a promising treatment option for ILD is highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jinying Lin
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
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