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Scientific Reports May 2024This study aimed to investigate the potential anti-fibrotic activity of vinpocetine in an experimental model of pulmonary fibrosis by bleomycin and in the MRC-5 cell...
This study aimed to investigate the potential anti-fibrotic activity of vinpocetine in an experimental model of pulmonary fibrosis by bleomycin and in the MRC-5 cell line. Pulmonary fibrosis was induced in BALB/c mice by oropharyngeal aspiration of a single dose of bleomycin (5 mg/kg). The remaining induced animals received a daily dose of pirfenidone (as a standard anti-fibrotic drug) (300 mg/kg/PO) and vinpocetine (20 mg/kg/PO) on day 7 of the induction till the end of the experiment (day 21). The results of the experiment revealed that vinpocetine managed to alleviate the fibrotic endpoints by statistically improving (P ≤ 0.05) the weight index, histopathological score, reduced expression of fibrotic-related proteins in immune-stained lung sections, as well as fibrotic markers measured in serum samples. It also alleviated tissue levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory and pro-fibrotic mediators significantly elevated in bleomycin-only induced animals (P ≤ 0.05). Vinpocetine managed to express a remarkable attenuating effect in pulmonary fibrosis both in vivo and in vitro either directly by interfering with the classical TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway or indirectly by upregulating the expression of Nrf2 enhancing the antioxidant system, activating PPAR-γ and downregulating the NLRP3/NF-κB pathway making it a candidate for further clinical investigation in cases of pulmonary fibrosis.
Topics: Animals; Vinca Alkaloids; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; PPAR gamma; Mice; NF-kappa B; Smad3 Protein; Smad2 Protein; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; Signal Transduction; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Alveolar Epithelial Cells; Humans; Bleomycin; Disease Models, Animal; Male; Cell Line; Oxidative Stress
PubMed: 38750140
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61269-y -
Journal of Thoracic Disease Apr 2024Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive interstitial lung disease with a high mortality rate and limited treatment efficacy. Nintedanib, a...
BACKGROUND
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive interstitial lung disease with a high mortality rate and limited treatment efficacy. Nintedanib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is clinically used to treat pulmonary fibrosis. At present, only nintedanib is on the market for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Pazopanib is a drug for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma and advanced soft tissue sarcoma.
METHODS
In this study, we explored whether pazopanib can attenuate bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis and explored its antifibrotic mechanism. and investigations were carried out to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of action of pazopanib in pulmonary fibrosis.
RESULTS
experiments showed that pazopanib can alleviate pulmonary fibrosis caused by BLM, reduce the degree of collagen deposition and improve lung function. experiments showed that pazopanib suppressed transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced myofibroblast activation and promoted apoptosis and autophagy in myofibroblasts. Further mechanistic studies demonstrated that pazopanib inhibited the TGF-β1/Smad and non-Smad signaling pathways during fibroblast activation.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, pazopanib attenuated BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis by suppressing the TGF-β1 signaling pathway. Pazopanib inhibits myofibroblast activation, migration, autophagy, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) buildup by downregulating the TGF-β1/Smad signal route and the TGF-β1/non-Smad signal pathway. It has the same target as nintedanib and is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
PubMed: 38738240
DOI: 10.21037/jtd-23-1349 -
BMC Pulmonary Medicine May 2024Since 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...
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.
Topics: Animals; Morphinans; Mice; Signal Transduction; Humans; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Smad3 Protein; NF-kappa B; Bleomycin; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Down-Regulation; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; A549 Cells; Cell Proliferation; Disease Models, Animal; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Lung; Cell Movement
PubMed: 38730387
DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-03050-5 -
The European Respiratory Journal May 2024https://bit.ly/4aq6iAI
https://bit.ly/4aq6iAI
Topics: Humans; Fibroblasts; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Animals; Cell Lineage; Membrane Proteins; Mice; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
PubMed: 38724178
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00498-2024 -
International Immunopharmacology May 2024Fibrosis results from excessive scar formation after tissue injury. Injured cells release alarmins such as interleukin 1 (IL-1) α and β as primary mediators initiating...
BACKGROUND
Fibrosis results from excessive scar formation after tissue injury. Injured cells release alarmins such as interleukin 1 (IL-1) α and β as primary mediators initiating tissue repair. However, how alarmins from different cell types differentially regulate fibrosis remains to be explored.
METHODS
Here, we used tissue specific knockout strategy to illustrate a unique contribution of endothelial cell-derived IL-1α to lung and liver fibrosis. The two fibrotic animal model triggered by bleomycin and CCl were used to study the effects of endothelial paracrine/angiocrine IL-1α in fibrotic progression. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were performed to explore the production of angiocrine IL-1α at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels in vitro.
RESULTS
We found that endothelial paracrine/angiocrine IL-1α primarily promotes lung and liver fibrosis during the early phase of organ repair. By contrast, myeloid cell-specific ablation of IL-1α in mice resulted in little influence on fibrosis, suggesting the specific pro-fibrotic role of IL-1α from endothelial cell but not macrophage. In vitro study revealed a coordinated regulation of IL-1α production in human primary endothelial cells at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Specifically, the transcription of IL-1α is regulated by RIPK1, and after caspase-8 (CASP8) cleaves the precursor form of IL-1α, its secretion is triggered by ion channel Pannexin 1 upon CASP8 cleavage.
CONCLUSIONS
Endothelial cell-produced IL-1α plays a unique role in promoting organ fibrosis. Furthermore, the release of this angiocrine alarmin relies on a unique molecular mechanism involving RIPK1, CASP8, and ion channel Pannexin 1.
PubMed: 38723369
DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112176 -
Physiological Reports May 2024INPP4A has been shown to be involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis of multiple cell types including fibroblasts. Previous reports from our group...
INPP4A has been shown to be involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis of multiple cell types including fibroblasts. Previous reports from our group have demonstrated the role of inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase Type I A (INPP4A) in these functions. Though existing evidences suggest a critical role for INPP4A in the maintenance of lung homeostasis, its role in chronic lung diseases is relatively under explored. In the current study, we made an attempt to understand the regulation of INPP4A in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Through integration of relevant INPP4A gene expression data from public repositories with our results from in vitro experiments and mouse models, we show that INPP4A is altered in IPF. Interestingly, the direction of the change is dependent both on the disease stage and the region of the lung used. INPP4A was found to be upregulated when analyzed in lung sample representative of the whole lung, but was downregulated in the fibrotic regions of the lung. Similarly, INPP4A was found to be high, compared to controls, only in the early stage of the disease. Though the observed increase in INPP4A was found to be negatively correlated to physiological indices, FVC, and DL, of lung function, treatment with anti-INPP4A antibody worsened the condition in bleomycin treated mice. These contrasting results taken together are suggestive of a nuanced regulation of INPP4A in IPF which is dependent on the disease stage, cellular state and extent of fibrosis in the lung region being analyzed.
Topics: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; Animals; Humans; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; Mice; Lung; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Fibroblasts; Female
PubMed: 38720166
DOI: 10.14814/phy2.16032 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Apr 2024Myofibroblast differentiation, essential for driving extracellular matrix synthesis in pulmonary fibrosis, requires increased glycolysis. While glycolytic cells must...
Myofibroblast differentiation, essential for driving extracellular matrix synthesis in pulmonary fibrosis, requires increased glycolysis. While glycolytic cells must export lactate, the contributions of lactate transporters to myofibroblast differentiation are unknown. In this study, we investigated how MCT1 and MCT4, key lactate transporters, influence myofibroblast differentiation and experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Our findings reveal that inhibiting MCT1 or MCT4 reduces TGFβ-stimulated pulmonary myofibroblast differentiation and decreases bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis . Through comprehensive metabolic analyses, including bioenergetics, stable isotope tracing, metabolomics, and imaging mass spectrometry in both cells and mice, we demonstrate that inhibiting lactate transport enhances oxidative phosphorylation, reduces reactive oxygen species production, and diminishes glucose metabolite incorporation into fibrotic lung regions. Furthermore, we introduce VB253, a novel MCT4 inhibitor, which ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis in both young and aged mice, with comparable efficacy to established antifibrotic therapies. These results underscore the necessity of lactate transport for myofibroblast differentiation, identify MCT1 and MCT4 as promising pharmacologic targets in pulmonary fibrosis, and support further evaluation of lactate transport inhibitors for patients for whom limited therapeutic options currently exist.
PubMed: 38712233
DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.25.591150 -
Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao = Journal... Apr 2024To observe the effect of (SQCC) Formula on the ASS1/src/STAT3 signaling pathway in a rat model of lung fibrosis and explore its therapeutic mechanism.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of (SQCC) Formula on the ASS1/src/STAT3 signaling pathway in a rat model of lung fibrosis and explore its therapeutic mechanism.
METHODS
A total of 120 male SD rats were divided equally into 5 groups, including a blank control group with saline treatment and 4 groups of rat models of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis induced by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. One day after modeling, the rat models were treated with daily gavage of 10 mL/kg saline, SQCC decoction (0.423 g/kg), pirfenidone (10 mL/kg), or intraperitoneal injection of arginine deiminase (ADI; 2.25 mg/kg, every 3 days) for 28 days. After the treatments, the lung tissues of the rats were collected for calculating the lung/body weight ratio, observing histopathology using HE and Masson staining, and analyzing the inflammatory cells in BALF using Giemsa staining. Serum chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) levels were measured with ELISA. The protein expressions of src, p-src, STAT3, and p-STAT3 and the mRNA expressions of ASS1, src and STAT3 in the lung tissues were detected using Western blotting and RT-qPCR.
RESULTS
The neutrophil, macrophage and lymphocyte counts and serum levels of CCL2 and TGF-β1 were significantly lower in SQCC, pirfenidone and ADI treatment groups than in the model group at each time point of measurement ( < 0.05). P-src and p-STAT3 protein expression levels and ASS1, src, and STAT3 mRNA in the lung tissues were also significantly lower in the 3 treatment groups than in the model group ( < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
SQCC Formula can alleviate lung fibrosis in rats possibly by activating the ASS1/src/STAT3 signaling pathway in the lung tissues.
Topics: Animals; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Rats; Male; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Signal Transduction; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Lung; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Inflammation; Disease Models, Animal; Bleomycin; Chemokine CCL2; src-Family Kinases
PubMed: 38708496
DOI: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2024.04.04 -
Respiratory Research May 2024Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is a secretory glycoprotein upregulated by oxidative stress; moreover, patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have shown increased LCN2...
BACKGROUND
Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is a secretory glycoprotein upregulated by oxidative stress; moreover, patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have shown increased LCN2 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). This study aimed to determine whether circulatory LCN2 could be a systemic biomarker in patients with IPF and to investigate the role of LCN2 in a bleomycin-induced lung injury mouse model.
METHODS
We measured serum LCN2 levels in 99 patients with stable IPF, 27 patients with acute exacerbation (AE) of IPF, 51 patients with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and 67 healthy controls. Further, LCN2 expression in lung tissue was evaluated in a bleomycin-induced lung injury mouse model, and the role of LCN2 was investigated using LCN2-knockout (LCN2 -/-) mice.
RESULTS
Serum levels of LCN2 were significantly higher in patients with AE-IPF than in the other groups. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model showed that elevated serum LCN2 level was an independent predictor of poor survival in patients with AE-IPF. In the bleomycin-induced lung injury mouse model, a higher dose of bleomycin resulted in higher LCN2 levels and shorter survival. Bleomycin-treated LCN2 -/- mice exhibited increased BALF cell and protein levels as well as hydroxyproline content. Moreover, compared with wild-type mice, LCN2-/- mice showed higher levels of circulatory 8-isoprostane as well as lower Nrf-2, GCLC, and NQO1 expression levels in lung tissue following bleomycin administration.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrate that serum LCN2 might be a potential prognostic marker of AE-IPF. Moreover, LCN2 expression levels may reflect the severity of lung injury, and LCN2 may be a protective factor against bleomycin-induced acute lung injury and oxidative stress.
Topics: Animals; Lipocalin-2; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; Male; Humans; Female; Biomarkers; Mice, Knockout; Mice; Aged; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Bleomycin; Disease Progression; Disease Models, Animal
PubMed: 38704585
DOI: 10.1186/s12931-024-02825-y -
Arthritis Research & Therapy May 2024Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by vascular injury and inflammation, followed by excessive fibrosis of the skin and other internal...
BACKGROUND
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by vascular injury and inflammation, followed by excessive fibrosis of the skin and other internal organs, including the lungs. CX3CL1 (fractalkine), a chemokine expressed on endothelial cells, supports the migration of macrophages and T cells that express its specific receptor CX3CR1 into targeted tissues. We previously reported that anti-CX3CL1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment significantly inhibited transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced expression of type I collagen and fibronectin 1 in human dermal fibroblasts. Additionally, anti-mouse CX3CL1 mAb efficiently suppressed skin inflammation and fibrosis in bleomycin- and growth factor-induced SSc mouse models. However, further studies using different mouse models of the complex immunopathology of SSc are required before the initiation of a clinical trial of CX3CL1 inhibitors for human SSc.
METHODS
To assess the preclinical utility and functional mechanism of anti-CX3CL1 mAb therapy in skin and lung fibrosis, a sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease (Scl-cGVHD) mouse model was analyzed with immunohistochemical staining for characteristic infiltrating cells and RNA sequencing assays.
RESULTS
On day 42 after bone marrow transplantation, Scl-cGVHD mice showed increased serum CX3CL1 level. Intraperitoneal administration of anti-CX3CL1 mAb inhibited the development of fibrosis in the skin and lungs of Scl-cGVHD model, and did not result in any apparent adverse events. The therapeutic effects were correlated with the number of tissue-infiltrating inflammatory cells and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-positive myofibroblasts. RNA sequencing analysis of the fibrotic skin demonstrated that cGVHD-dependent induction of gene sets associated with macrophage-related inflammation and fibrosis was significantly downregulated by mAb treatment. In the process of fibrosis, mAb treatment reduced cGVHD-induced infiltration of macrophages and T cells in the skin and lungs, especially those expressing CX3CR1.
CONCLUSIONS
Together with our previous findings in other SSc mouse models, the current results indicated that anti-CX3CL1 mAb therapy could be a rational therapeutic approach for fibrotic disorders, such as human SSc and Scl-cGVHD.
Topics: Animals; Graft vs Host Disease; Disease Models, Animal; Scleroderma, Systemic; Mice; Chemokine CX3CL1; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Skin; Fibrosis; Female; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Humans; Lung
PubMed: 38702742
DOI: 10.1186/s13075-024-03307-8