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Li H, Xin G, Zhou Q, Yu X, Wan C, Wang Y, Wen A, Zhang K, Zhang B, Cao Y, Huang W. Qingkailing granule alleviates pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting PI3K/AKT and SRC/STAT3 signaling pathways. Bioorg Chem 2024; 146:107286. [PMID: 38537336 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107286] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) poses a significant challenge with limited treatment options and a high mortality rate of approximately 45 %. Qingkailing Granule (QKL), derived from the Angong Niuhuang Pill, shows promise in addressing pulmonary conditions. Using a comprehensive approach, combining network pharmacology analysis with experimental validation, this study explores the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of QKL against PF for the first time. In vivo, QKL reduced collagen deposition and suppressed proinflammatory cytokines in a bleomycin-induced PF mouse model. In vitro studies demonstrated QKL's efficacy in protecting cells from bleomycin-induced injury and reducing collagen accumulation and cell migration in TGF-β1-induced pulmonary fibrosis cell models. Network pharmacology analysis revealed potential mechanisms, confirmed by western blotting, involving the modulation of PI3K/AKT and SRC/STAT3 signaling pathways. Molecular docking simulations highlighted interactions between QKL's active compounds and key proteins, showing inhibitory effects on epithelial damage and fibrosis. Collectively, these findings underscore the therapeutic potential of QKL in alleviating pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis through the downregulation of PI3K/AKT and SRC/STAT3 signaling pathways, with a pivotal role attributed to its active compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Li
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Laboratory of Ethnopharmacology, Tissue-Orientated Property of Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Guang Xin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Laboratory of Ethnopharmacology, Tissue-Orientated Property of Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qilong Zhou
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Laboratory of Ethnopharmacology, Tissue-Orientated Property of Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiuxian Yu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Laboratory of Ethnopharmacology, Tissue-Orientated Property of Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Chengyu Wan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Laboratory of Ethnopharmacology, Tissue-Orientated Property of Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yilan Wang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Laboratory of Ethnopharmacology, Tissue-Orientated Property of Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ao Wen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Laboratory of Ethnopharmacology, Tissue-Orientated Property of Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Laboratory of Ethnopharmacology, Tissue-Orientated Property of Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Boli Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China; Innovative Chinese Medicine Academician Workstation, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yu Cao
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Laboratory of Ethnopharmacology, Tissue-Orientated Property of Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wen Huang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Laboratory of Ethnopharmacology, Tissue-Orientated Property of Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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Bhalla M, Heinzinger LR, Morenikeji OB, Marzullo B, Thomas BN, Bou Ghanem EN. Transcriptome Profiling Reveals CD73 and Age-Driven Changes in Neutrophil Responses against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e0025821. [PMID: 34310891 PMCID: PMC8519284 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00258-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are required for host resistance against Streptococcus pneumoniae, but their function declines with age. We previously found that CD73, an enzyme required for antimicrobial activity, is downregulated in neutrophils (also known as polymorphonuclear leukocytes [PMNs]) from aged mice. This study explored transcriptional changes in neutrophils induced by S. pneumoniae to identify pathways controlled by CD73 and dysregulated with age. Pure bone marrow-derived neutrophils isolated from wild-type (WT) young and old and CD73 knockout (CD73KO) young mice were mock challenged or infected with S. pneumoniae ex vivo. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We found that infection triggered distinct global transcriptional changes across hosts that were strongest in CD73KO neutrophils. Surprisingly, there were more downregulated than upregulated genes in all groups upon infection. Downregulated DEGs indicated a dampening of immune responses in old and CD73KO hosts. Further analysis revealed that CD73KO neutrophils expressed higher numbers of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) than those in WT controls. Predicted network analysis indicated that CD73KO-specific lncRNAs control several signaling pathways. We found that genes in the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway were upregulated upon infection in CD73KO mice and in WT old mice, but not in WT young mice. This corresponded to functional differences, as phosphorylation of the downstream AP-1 transcription factor component c-Jun was significantly higher in neutrophils from infected CD73KO mice and old mice. Importantly, inhibition of JNK/AP-1 rescued the ability of these neutrophils to kill S. pneumoniae. Together, our findings revealed that the ability of neutrophils to modify their gene expression to better adapt to bacterial infection is in part regulated by CD73 and declines with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manmeet Bhalla
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Lauren R. Heinzinger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Olanrewaju B. Morenikeji
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences and Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
- Division of Biological and Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh–Bradford, Bradford, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Brandon Marzullo
- Department of Biochemistry and Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Bolaji N. Thomas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences and Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Elsa N. Bou Ghanem
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine, Buffalo, New York, USA
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Pintado-Berninches L, Montes-Worboys A, Manguan-García C, Arias-Salgado EG, Serrano A, Fernandez-Varas B, Guerrero-López R, Iarriccio L, Planas L, Guenechea G, Egusquiaguirre SP, Hernandez RM, Igartua M, Luis Pedraz J, Cortijo J, Sastre L, Molina-Molina M, Perona R. GSE4-loaded nanoparticles a potential therapy for lung fibrosis that enhances pneumocyte growth, reduces apoptosis and DNA damage. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21422. [PMID: 33638895 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202001160rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a lethal lung fibrotic disease, associated with aging with a mean survival of 2-5 years and no curative treatment. The GSE4 peptide is able to rescue cells from senescence, DNA and oxidative damage, inflammation, and induces telomerase activity. Here, we investigated the protective effect of GSE4 expression in vitro in rat alveolar epithelial cells (AECs), and in vivo in a bleomycin model of lung fibrosis. Bleomycin-injured rat AECs, expressing GSE4 or treated with GSE4-PLGA/PEI nanoparticles showed an increase of telomerase activity, decreased DNA damage, and decreased expression of IL6 and cleaved-caspase 3. In addition, these cells showed an inhibition in expression of fibrotic markers induced by TGF-β such as collagen-I and III among others. Furthermore, treatment with GSE4-PLGA/PEI nanoparticles in a rat model of bleomycin-induced fibrosis, increased telomerase activity and decreased DNA damage in proSP-C cells. Both in preventive and therapeutic protocols GSE4-PLGA/PEI nanoparticles prevented and attenuated lung damage monitored by SPECT-CT and inhibited collagen deposition. Lungs of rats treated with bleomycin and GSE4-PLGA/PEI nanoparticles showed reduced expression of α-SMA and pro-inflammatory cytokines, increased number of pro-SPC-multicellular structures and increased DNA synthesis in proSP-C cells, indicating therapeutic efficacy of GSE4-nanoparticles in experimental lung fibrosis and a possible curative treatment for lung fibrotic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pintado-Berninches
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, CSIC/UAM, IDIPaz, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Montes-Worboys
- ILD Unit, Pneumology Department, University Hospital of Bellvitge, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Manguan-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, CSIC/UAM, IDIPaz, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Adela Serrano
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.,CIBER of Respiratory diseases (CIBERES), Health Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Rosa Guerrero-López
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, CSIC/UAM, IDIPaz, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Iarriccio
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, CSIC/UAM, IDIPaz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lurdes Planas
- ILD Unit, Pneumology Department, University Hospital of Bellvitge, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Guillermo Guenechea
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain.,Division of Hematopoietic Innovative Therapies, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD/UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Susana P Egusquiaguirre
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), CIBER-BBN, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Rosa M Hernandez
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), CIBER-BBN, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Manoli Igartua
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), CIBER-BBN, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Pedraz
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), CIBER-BBN, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Julio Cortijo
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.,CIBER of Respiratory diseases (CIBERES), Health Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Leandro Sastre
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, CSIC/UAM, IDIPaz, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Molina-Molina
- ILD Unit, Pneumology Department, University Hospital of Bellvitge, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER of Respiratory diseases (CIBERES), Health Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosario Perona
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, CSIC/UAM, IDIPaz, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
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Polyphosphate Reverses the Toxicity of the Quasi-Enzyme Bleomycin on Alveolar Endothelial Lung Cells In Vitro. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040750. [PMID: 33670189 PMCID: PMC7916961 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The anti-cancer antitumor antibiotic bleomycin(s) (BLM) induces athyminic sites in DNA after its activation, a process that results in strand splitting. Here, using A549 human lung cells or BEAS-2B cells lunc cells, we show that the cell toxicity of BLM can be suppressed by addition of inorganic polyphosphate (polyP), a physiological polymer that accumulates and is released from platelets. BLM at a concentration of 20 µg ml-1 causes a decrease in cell viability (by ~70%), accompanied by an increased DNA damage and chromatin expansion (by amazingly 6-fold). Importantly, the BLM-caused effects on cell growth and DNA integrity are substantially suppressed by polyP. In parallel, the enlargement of the nuclei/chromatin in BLM-treated cells (diameter, 20-25 µm) is normalized to ~12 µm after co-incubation of the cells with BLM and polyP. A sequential application of the drugs (BLM for 3 days, followed by an exposure to polyP) does not cause this normalization. During co-incubation of BLM with polyP the gene for the BLM hydrolase is upregulated. It is concluded that by upregulating this enzyme polyP prevents the toxic side effects of BLM. These data might also contribute to an application of BLM in COVID-19 patients, since polyP inhibits binding of SARS-CoV-2 to cellular ACE2.
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Lee DF, Stewart GR, Chambers MA. Modelling early events in Mycobacterium bovis infection using a co-culture model of the bovine alveolus. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18495. [PMID: 33116165 PMCID: PMC7595104 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75113-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), a zoonosis mainly caused by Mycobacterium bovis has severe socio-economic consequences and impact on animal health. Host-pathogen interactions during M. bovis infection are poorly understood, especially early events which are difficult to follow in vivo. This study describes the utilisation of an in vitro co-culture model, comprising immortalised bovine alveolar type II (BATII) epithelial cells and bovine pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (BPAECs). When cultured at air-liquid interface, it was possible to follow the migration of live M. bovis Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and to observe interactions with each cell type, alongside cytokine release. Infection with BCG was shown to exert a detrimental effect primarily upon epithelial cells, with corresponding increases in IL8, TNFα, IL22 and IL17a cytokine release, quantified by ELISA. BCG infection increased expression of CD54, MHC Class I and II molecules in endothelial but not epithelial cells, which exhibited constitutive expression. The effect of peripheral blood mononuclear cell conditioned medium from vaccinated cattle upon apical-basolateral migration of BCG was examined by quantifying recovered BCG from the apical, membrane and basolateral fractions over time. The numbers of recovered BCG in each fraction were unaffected by the presence of PBMC conditioned medium, with no observable differences between vaccinated and naïve animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Frances Lee
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK.
| | | | - Mark Andrew Chambers
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK
- School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK
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Saleiro D, Platanias LC. Interferon signaling in cancer. Non-canonical pathways and control of intracellular immune checkpoints. Semin Immunol 2019; 43:101299. [PMID: 31771762 PMCID: PMC8177745 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2019.101299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The interferons (IFNs) are cytokines with important antineoplastic and immune modulatory effects. These cytokines have been conserved through evolution as important elements of the immune surveillance against cancer. Despite this, defining their precise and specific roles in the generation of antitumor responses remains challenging. Emerging evidence suggests the existence of previously unknown roles for IFNs in the control of the immune response against cancer that may redefine our understanding on how these cytokines function. Beyond the engagement of classical JAK-STAT signaling pathways that promote transcription and expression of gene products, the IFNs engage multiple other signaling cascades to generate products that mediate biological responses and outcomes. There is recent emerging evidence indicating that IFNs control the expression of both traditional immune checkpoints like the PD-L1/PD1 axis, but also less well understood "intracellular" immune checkpoints whose targeting may define new approaches for the treatment of malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Saleiro
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Division of Hematology-Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Superior Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Leonidas C Platanias
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Division of Hematology-Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Superior Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Medicine, Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 820 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
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