scholarly journals Role of the Arylhydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) in the Pathology of Asthma and COPD

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahito Chiba ◽  
Junichi Chihara ◽  
Masutaka Furue

The dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in cigarette smoke and environmental pollutants modulate immunological responses. These environmental toxicants are known to cause lung cancer but have also recently been implicated in allergic and inflammatory diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In a novel pathway of this response, the activation of a nuclear receptor, arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR), mediates the effects of these toxins through the arachidonic acid cascade, cell differentiation, cell-cell adhesion interactions, cytokine expression, and mucin production that are implicated in the pathogenesis and exacerbation of asthma/COPD. We have previously reported that human bronchial epithelial cells express AhR, and AhR activation induces mucin production through reactive oxygen species. This review discusses the role of AhR in asthma and COPD, focusing in particular on inflammatory and resident cells in the lung. We describe the important impact that AhR activation may have on the inflammation phase in the pathology of asthma and COPD. In addition, crosstalk of AhR signaling with other ligand-activated transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) has been well documented.

PPAR Research ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongchun Shen ◽  
Lei Chen ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
Fuqiang Wen

Airway mucus hypersecretion (AMH) is a key pathophysiological feature of chronic airway inflammatory diseases such as bronchial asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. AMH contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic airway inflammatory diseases, and it is associated with reduced lung function and high rates of hospitalization and mortality. It has been suggested that AMH should be a target in the treatment of chronic airway inflammatory diseases. Recent evidence suggests that a key regulator of airway inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, and remodeling is peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), a ligand-activated transcription factor that regulates adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. PPARγis expressed in structural, immune, and inflammatory cells in the lung. PPARγis involved in mucin production, and PPARγagonists can inhibit mucin synthesis bothin vitroandin vivo. These findings suggest that PPARγis a novel target in the treatment of AMH and that further work on this transcription factor may lead to new therapies for chronic airway inflammatory diseases.


Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kui Wang ◽  
Yi Chen ◽  
Pengju Zhang ◽  
Ping Lin ◽  
Na Xie ◽  
...  

Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic process involving autolysosomal degradation of cellular components, including protein aggregates, damaged organelles (such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and others), as well as various pathogens. Thus, the autophagy pathway represents a major adaptive response for the maintenance of cellular and tissue homeostasis in response to numerous cellular stressors. A growing body of evidence suggests that autophagy is closely associated with diverse human diseases. Specifically, acute lung injury (ALI) and inflammatory responses caused by bacterial infection or xenobiotic inhalation (e.g., chlorine and cigarette smoke) have been reported to involve a spectrum of alterations in autophagy phenotypes. The role of autophagy in pulmonary infection and inflammatory diseases could be protective or harmful dependent on the conditions. In this review, we describe recent advances regarding the protective features of autophagy in pulmonary diseases, with a focus on ALI, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and cystic fibrosis.


2011 ◽  
Vol 212 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham B Roos ◽  
Magnus Nord

Glucocorticoids (GCs) have been successfully used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases for decades. However, there is a relative GC resistance in several inflammatory lung disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but still the mechanism(s) behind this unresponsiveness remains unknown. Interaction between transcription factors and the GC receptor contribute to GC effects but may also provide mechanisms explaining steroid resistance. CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) transcription factors are important regulators of pulmonary gene expression and have been implicated in inflammatory lung diseases such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis, and COPD. In addition, several studies have indicated a role for C/EBPs in mediating GC effects. In this review, we discuss the different mechanisms of GC action as well as the function of the lung-enriched members of the C/EBP transcription factor family. We also summarize the current knowledge of the role of C/EBP transcription factors in mediating the effects of GCs, with emphasis on pulmonary effects, and their potential role in mediating GC resistance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hernán F. Peñaloza ◽  
Rick van der Geest ◽  
Joel A. Ybe ◽  
Theodore J. Standiford ◽  
Janet S. Lee

The IL-36 family of cytokines were identified in the early 2000’s as a new subfamily of the IL-1 cytokine family, and since then, the role of IL-36 cytokines during various inflammatory processes has been characterized. While most of the research has focused on the role of these cytokines in autoimmune skin diseases such as psoriasis and dermatitis, recent studies have also shown the importance of IL-36 cytokines in the lung inflammatory response during infectious and non-infectious diseases. In this review, we discuss the biology of IL-36 cytokines in terms of how they are produced and activated, as well as their effects on myeloid and lymphoid cells during inflammation. We also discuss the role of these cytokines during lung infectious diseases caused by bacteria and influenza virus, as well as other inflammatory conditions in the lungs such as allergic asthma, lung fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and cancer. Finally, we discuss the current therapeutic advances that target the IL-36 pathway and the possibility to extend these tools to treat lung inflammatory diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-32
Author(s):  
AGNIESZKA MAGRYŚ

Chronic respiratory diseases account for high morbidity and mortality, with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis (CF) being the most prevalent globally. Even though the diseases increase in prevalence, the exact underlying mechanisms have still not been fully understood. Despite their differences in nature, pathophysiologies, and clinical phenotypes, a growing body of evidence indicates that the presence of lung microbiota can shape the pathogenic processes underlying chronic inflammation, typically observed in the course of the diseases. Therefore, the characterization of the lung microbiota may shed new light on the pathogenesis of these diseases. Specifically, in chronic respiratory tract diseases, the human microbiota may contribute to the disease’s development and severity. The present review explores the role of the microbiota in the area of chronic pulmonary diseases, especially COPD, asthma, and CF.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Toobian ◽  
Pradipta Ghosh ◽  
Gajanan D. Katkar

Cells are richly equipped with nuclear receptors, which act as ligand-regulated transcription factors. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs), members of the nuclear receptor family, have been extensively studied for their roles in development, differentiation, and homeostatic processes. In the recent past, there has been substantial interest in understanding and defining the functions of PPARs and their agonists in regulating innate and adaptive immune responses as well as their pharmacologic potential in combating acute and chronic inflammatory disease. In this review, we focus on emerging evidence of the potential roles of the PPAR subtypes in macrophage biology. We also discuss the roles of dual and pan PPAR agonists as modulators of immune cell function, microbial infection, and inflammatory diseases.


2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (51) ◽  
pp. 2083-2088 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balázs Antus

A kilégzett levegőben mérhető nitrogén-monoxid a legszélesebb körben vizsgált légúti biomarker. A stabil állapotú krónikus obstruktív tüdőbetegségben a kilégzett nitrogén-monoxid-szint hasonló vagy csak kismértékben emelkedett az egészségesekhez képest. Mivel a nitrogén-monoxid-szint szoros összefüggést mutat a légúti eosinophilia mértékével, és mivel az eosinophil típusú légúti gyulladás szteroidokra érzékenyebb, az emelkedett nitrogén-monoxid-szinttel rendelkező betegek jobb válaszkészséget mutatnak az inhalációs vagy szisztémás kortikoszteroidkezelésre. A krónikus obstruktív tüdőbetegség akut exacerbatiója során a kilégzett nitrogén-monoxid szintje megemelkedik, majd ennek kezelése után csökken. Mivel a nitrogén-monoxid-szint és a kezelés során elért légzésfunkciós javulás szoros korrelációt mutat egymással, a nitrogén-monoxid-méréssel a terápiás válasz megjósolható. Összefoglalva: a nitrogén-monoxid-méréssel a krónikus obstruktív tüdőbetegségben szenvedő betegek olyan alcsoportját lehet elkülöníteni, amelynek szteroidérzékenysége nagyobb. Orv. Hetil., 2010, 151, 2083–2088.


2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 360-370
Author(s):  
Stanislav N. Kotlyarov ◽  
Anna A. Kotlyarova

Despite all achievements of the modern medicine, the problem of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) does not lose its relevance. The current paradigm suggests a key role of macrophages in inflammation in COPD. Macrophages are known to be heterogeneous in their functions. This heterogeneity is determined by their immunometabolic profile and also by peculiarities of lipid homeostasis of cells. Aim. To analyze the role of the ABCA1 transporter, a member of the ABC A subfamily, in the pathogenesis of COPD. The expression of ABCA1 in lung tissues is on the second place after the liver, which shows the important role of the carrier and of lipid homeostasis in the function of lungs. Analysis of the literature shows that participation of the transporter in inflammation consists in regulation of the content of cholesterol in the lipid rafts of the membranes, in phagocytosis and apoptosis. Conclusion. Through regulation of the process of reverse transport of cholesterol in macrophages of lungs, ABCA1 can change their inflammatory response, which makes a significant contribution to the pathogenesis of COPD.


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