Post‑treatment with propofol inhibits inflammatory response in LPS‑induced alveolar type II epithelial cells

Propofol modulates Nrf2/NLRP3 signaling to ameliorate cigarette smoke-induced damage in human bronchial epithelial cells

Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) is known as a significant contributor to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Propofol, an anesthetic agent, has been studied for its potential protective effects against lung damage. This study aimed to elucidate the protective mechanisms of propofol against CSE-induced damage in human bronchial epithelial 16HBE cells. In CSE-induced 16HBE cells treated by propofol with or without transfection of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) interference plasmids, CCK-8 assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay evaluated cytotoxicity. TUNEL assay and Western blot appraised cell apoptosis. ELISA and relevant assay kits severally measured inflammatory and oxidative stress levels. DCFH-DA fluorescent probe detected intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot estimated pyroptosis. Also, Western blot analyzed the expression of Nrf2/NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) signaling-related proteins. Propofol was found to enhance the viability, reduce LDH release, and alleviate the apoptosis, inflammatory response, oxidative stress and pyroptosis in CSE-induced 16HBE cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Meanwhile, propofol decreased NLRP3 expression while raised Nrf2 expression. Further, after Nrf2 was silenced, the impacts of propofol on Nrf2/NLRP3 signaling, LDH release, apoptosis, inflammatory response, oxidative stress and pyroptosis in CSE-exposed 16HBE cells were eliminated. Conclusively, propofol may exert protective effects against CSE-induced damage in 16HBE cells, partly through the modulation of the Nrf2/NLRP3 signaling pathway, suggesting a potential therapeutic role for propofol in CSE-induced bronchial epithelial cell damage.

Development of an In Vitro Model of SARS-CoV-Induced Acute Lung Injury for Studying New Therapeutic Approaches

One of the causes of death of patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 is the induced respiratory failure caused by excessive activation of the immune system, the so-called “cytokine storm”, leading to damage to lung tissue. In vitro models reproducing various stages of the disease can be used to explore the pathogenetic mechanisms and therapeutic approaches to treating the consequences of a cytokine storm. We have developed an in vitro test system for simulating damage to the pulmonary epithelium as a result of the development of a hyperinflammatory reaction based on the co-cultivation of pulmonary epithelial cells (A549 cells) and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) primed with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In this model, after 24 h of co-cultivation, a sharp decrease in the rate of proliferation of A549 cells associated with the intrinsic development of oxidative stress and, ultimately, with the induction of PANoptotic death were observed. There was a significant increase in the concentration of 40 cytokines/chemokines in a conditioned medium, including TNF-α, IFN-α, IL-6, and IL-1a, which corresponded to the cytokine profile in patients with severe manifestation of COVID-19. In order to verify the model, the analysis of the anti-inflammatory effects of well-known substances (dexamethasone, LPS from Rhodobacter sphaeroides (LPS-RS), polymyxin B), as well as multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) was carried out. Dexamethasone and polymyxin B restored the proliferative activity of A549 cells and reduced the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines. MSC demonstrated an ambivalent effect through stimulated production of both pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors that regenerate lung tissue. LPS-RS and EVs showed no significant effect. The developed test system can be used to study molecular and cellular pathological processes and to evaluate the effectiveness of various therapeutic approaches for the correction of hyperinflammatory response in COVID-19 patients.