scholarly journals The Protective Effects of Maresin 1 in the OVA-Induced Asthma Mouse Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Guochun Ou ◽  
Qin Liu ◽  
Chengxiu Yu ◽  
Xiaoju Chen ◽  
Wenbo Zhang ◽  
...  

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that cannot be cured. Maresin 1 (MaR1) is a specific lipid synthesized by macrophages that exhibits powerful anti-inflammatory effects in various inflammatory diseases. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of MaR1 on allergic asthma using an ovalbumin- (OVA-) induced asthma model. Thirty BALB/c mice were randomly allocated to control, OVA, and MaR1 + OVA groups. Mice were sacrificed 24 hours after the end of the last challenge, and serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung tissue were collected for further analysis. Western blotting was used to measure the protein level of IκBα, the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, and the expression of NF-κB downstream inflammatory cytokines. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions (qRT-PCRs) were used to evaluate the expression levels of COX-2 and ICAM-1 in lung tissues. We found that high doses of MaR1 were most effective in preventing OVA-induced inflammatory cell infiltration and excessive mucus production in lung tissue, reducing the number of inflammatory cells in the BALF and inhibiting the expression of serum or BALF-associated inflammatory factors. Furthermore, high-dose MaR1 treatment markedly suppressed the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, the degradation of IκBα, and the expression of inflammatory genes downstream of NF-κB, such as COX-2 and ICAM-1, in the OVA-induced asthma mouse model. Our findings indicate that MaR1 may play a critical role in OVA-induced asthma and may be therapeutically useful for the management of asthma.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yani Wang ◽  
Siqi Hu ◽  
Lisha Shen ◽  
Song Liu ◽  
Linyan Wan ◽  
...  

Pulmonary fibrosis is a group of progressive, fibrotic, and fatal lung diseases, and the role of autophagy in pulmonary fibrosis is controversial. In the current research, we dynamically observed a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis mouse model after 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days and investigated the expression of autophagy markers. We found that autophagy markers were not significantly changed on the indicated days in the mouse lung tissue. Then, RNA-Seq was used to analyze the gene expression and associated functions and pathways in fibrotic lung tissue on different days post-bleomycin. In addition, short time series expression miner (STEM) analysis was performed to explore the temporal post-bleomycin gene expression. Through STEM, continually up- or downregulated profiles did not demonstrate the critical role of autophagy in the development of fibrosis. Furthermore, gene ontology (GO) annotations showed that continually upregulated profiles were mainly related to fibrosis synthesis, extracellular space, and inflammation, while enriched pathways were mainly related to the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, ECM–receptor interactions, and focal adhesion signaling pathway. For continually downregulated profiles, GO annotations mainly involved sarcomere organization, muscle contraction, and muscle fiber development. The enriched KEGG signaling pathways were the cAMP signaling pathway, cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, and cardiac muscle contraction. Moreover, we analyzed autophagy-related genes’ expression in specific cells from a publicly available database of three human and one animal study of pulmonary fibrosis using single-cell sequencing technology. All results consistently demonstrated no critical role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. In summary, autophagy may not critically and consistently change during the development of pulmonary fibrosis at different stages post-bleomycin in a mouse model. These continually up- or downregulated profiles, including gene profiles, and the corresponding functions and pathways may provide mechanistic insights into IPF therapy.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Xiao ◽  
Jun Song ◽  
Vida Hodara ◽  
Allen Ford ◽  
Xing Li Wang ◽  
...  

Endothelial injury induced by inflammatory factors plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Endothelial cell (EC) apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and cellular adhesion molecule (CAM) expression contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. We investigated the effects of resveratrol (0.1–100 μM) on the proliferation, migration, and CAM expression of primary cultures of baboon arterial endothelial cells (BAECs). In addition, we tested its effects under normal conditions as well as under inflammatory conditions induced by tumour necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) administered either by cotreatment, pretreatment, or posttreatment. Immunocytochemistry, MTT, wound-healing, and flow cytometry assays were performed. The resveratrol treatment significantly enhanced BAEC proliferation and attenuated TNF-α-induced impairment of proliferation at the optimal doses of 1–50 µM. Resveratrol at a high dose (100 μM) and TNF-αimpaired BAEC migration, while low doses of resveratrol (1–50 μM) attenuated TNF-α-induced impairment of BAEC migration. Moreover, resveratrol inhibited TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression. Taken together, our results suggest that the resveratrol protects BAECs after inflammatory stimulation as well as ameliorates inflammatory effects at low concentrations. Consequently, resveratrol should be considered as a candidate drug for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory vascular diseases.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiu Mei Ma ◽  
Kang Geng ◽  
Betty Yuen-Kwan Law ◽  
Peng Wang ◽  
Yue Li Pu ◽  
...  

Abstract Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by lipid accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and aseptic inflammatory activation. Mitochondria-derived cytosolic DNA has been reported to induce inflammation by activating cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)/the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway in the adipose, liver, and kidney tissue. However, the role of cytosolic mtDNA in the progression of DCM is unclear. In this study, with an obesity-related DCM mouse model established by feeding db/db mice with a high-fat diet (HFD), we observed increased mtDNA in the cytosol and activated cGAS-STING signaling pathway during DCM, as well as the downstream targets, IRF3, NF-κB, IL-18, and IL-1β. In further study with a palmitic acid (PA)-induced lipotoxic cell model established in H9C2 cells, we revealed that the cytosolic mtDNA was resulted from PA-induced overproduction of mitochondrial ROS, which also led to the activation of the cGAS/STING system and its downstream targets. Notably, treatment of extracted mtDNA alone was sufficient to activate the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in cultured H9C2 cells. Besides, both knockdown of STING in PA-induced H9C2 cells and inhibition of STING by C-176 injection in the DCM mouse model could remarkably block the inflammation and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, our study elucidated the critical role of cytosolic mtDNA-induced cGAS-STING activation in the pathogenesis of obesity-related DCM and provided preclinical validation for using a STING inhibitor as a new potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of DCM.


Author(s):  
Zhidan Li ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Fang Luo ◽  
Jian Li ◽  
Wenbin Yang ◽  
...  

Schistosoma japonicum infection showed protective effects against allergic airway inflammation (AAI). However, controversial findings exist especially regarding the timing of the helminth infection and the underlying mechanisms. Most previous studies focused on understanding the preventive effect of S. japonicum infection on asthma (infection before allergen sensitization), whereas the protective effects of S. japonicum infection (allergen sensitization before infection) on asthma were rarely investigated. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of S. japonicum infection on AAI using a mouse model of OVA-induced asthma. To explore how the timing of S. japonicum infection influences its protective effect, the mice were percutaneously infected with cercaria of S. japonicum at either 1 day (infection at lung-stage during AAI) or 14 days before ovalbumin (OVA) challenge (infection at post–lung-stage during AAI). We found that lung-stage S. japonicum infection significantly ameliorated OVA-induced AAI, whereas post–lung-stage infection did not. Mechanistically, lung-stage S. japonicum infection significantly upregulated the frequency of regulatory T cells (Treg cells), especially OVA-specific Treg cells, in lung tissue, which negatively correlated with the level of OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE). Depletion of Treg cells in vivo partially counteracted the protective effect of lung-stage S. japonicum infection on asthma. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis of lung tissue showed that lung-stage S. japonicum infection during AAI shaped the microenvironment to favor Treg induction. In conclusion, our data showed that lung-stage S. japonicum infection could relieve OVA-induced asthma in a mouse model. The protective effect was mediated by the upregulated OVA-specific Treg cells, which suppressed IgE production. Our results may facilitate the discovery of a novel therapy for AAI.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guo Zu ◽  
Jing Guo ◽  
Ningwei Che ◽  
Tingting Zhou ◽  
Xiangwen Zhang

Abstract Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) is one of the major bioactive ingredients in Panax ginseng, and it attenuates inflammation and apoptosis. The aims of our study were to explore the potential of Rg1 for the treatment of intestinal I/R injury and to determine whether the protective effects of Rg1 were exerted through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In this study, Rg1 treatment ameliorated inflammatory factors, ROS and apoptosis that were induced by intestinal I/R injury. Cell viability was increased and cell apoptosis was decreased with Rg1 pretreatment following hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) in the in vitro study. Rg1 activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in both the in vivo and in vitro models, and in the in vitro study, the activation was blocked by DKK1. Our study provides evidence that pretreatment with Rg1 significantly reduces ROS and apoptosis induced by intestinal I/R injury via activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Taken together, our results suggest that Rg1 could exert its therapeutic effects on intestinal I/R injury through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and provide a novel treatment modality for intestinal I/R injury.


Medicines ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanjun Deng ◽  
Kairui Tang ◽  
Runsen Chen ◽  
Yajie Liu ◽  
Huan Nie ◽  
...  

Background: In traditional Chinese medicine, the Shugan-Jianpi recipe is often used in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to explore the mechanism of the Shugan-Jianpi recipe in relation to rats with NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into eight groups: normal group (NG), model group (MG), low-dose Chaihu–Shugan–San group (L-CG), high-dose Chaihu–Shugan–San group (H-CG), low-dose Shenling–Baizhu–San group (L-SG), high-dose Shenling–Baizhu–San group (H-SG), low dose of integrated-recipes group (L-IG), and high dose of integrated-recipes group (H-IG). After 26 weeks, a lipid profile, aspartate, and alanine aminotransferases in serum were detected. The serum levels of inflammatory factors including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were analyzed using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Hepatic pathological changes were observed with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and oil red O staining. The expression of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. Results: A pathological section revealed that NAFLD rats have been successfully reproduced. Compared with the model group, each treatment group had different degrees of improvement. The Shugan-Jianpi recipe can inhibit the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in NAFLD rats. The expression of mRNA and a protein related to the p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway were markedly decreased as a result of the Shugan-Jianpi recipe. Conclusions: The Shugan-Jianpi recipe could attenuate NAFLD progression, and its mechanism may be related to the suppression of the p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway in hepatocytes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 301-313
Author(s):  
Chenjian Song ◽  
Lingjing Liu ◽  
Junjie Chen ◽  
Yiran Hu ◽  
Jingli Li ◽  
...  

AbstractParticulate matter (PM) is an environmental pollutant closely associated with human airway inflammation. However, the molecular mechanisms of PM-related airway inflammation remains to be fully elucidated. It is known that COX-2/PGE2 play key roles in the pathogenesis of airway inflammation. Filaggrin is a transmembrane protein contributing to tight junction barrier function. As such, Filaggrin prevents leakage of transported solutes and is therefore necessary for the maintenance of epithelial integrity. The objective of the present study was to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of COX-2/PGE2 and Filaggrin upon PM exposure both in vivo and in vitro. C57BL/6 mice received intratracheal instillation of PM for two consecutive days. In parallel, human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) were exposed to PM for 24 h. PM exposure resulted in airway inflammation together with upregulation of COX-2/PGE2 and downregulation of Filaggrin in mouse lungs. Corresponding dysregulation of COX-2/PGE2 and Filaggrin was also observed in HBECs subjected to PM. PM exposure led to the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and PI3K signaling pathways in a time-dependent manner, while blockade of PI3K with the specific molecular inhibitor LY294002 partially reversed the dysregulation of COX-2/PGE2 and Filaggrin. Moreover, pretreatment of HBECs with NS398, a specific molecular inhibitor of COX-2, and AH6809, a downstream PGE2 receptor inhibitor, reversed the downregulation of Filaggrin upon PM exposure. Taken together, these data demonstrated that the PI3K signaling pathway upregulated COX-2 as well as PGE2 and acted as a pivotal mediator in the downregulation of Filaggrin.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quanchao Sun ◽  
You Wu ◽  
Feng Zhao ◽  
Jianjun Wang

Lung ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury occurs in various clinical conditions and heavily damaged lung function. Oxidative stress reaction and antioxidant enzymes play a pivotal role in the etiopathogenesis of lung I/R injury. In the current study, we investigated the impact of Maresin 1 on lung I/R injury and explored the possible mechanism involved in this process. MaR 1 ameliorated I/R-induced lung injury score, wet/dry weight ratio, myeloperoxidase, tumor necrosis factor, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) leukocyte count, BALF neutrophil ratio, and pulmonary permeability index levels in lung tissue. MaR 1 significantly reduced ROS, methane dicarboxylic aldehyde, and 15-F2t-isoprostane generation and restored antioxidative enzyme (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase) activities. Administration of MaR 1 improved the expression of nuclear Nrf-2 and cytosolic HO-1 in I/R-treated lung tissue. Furthermore, we also found that the protective effects of MaR 1 on lung tissue injury and oxidative stress were reversed by HO-1 activity inhibitor, Znpp-IX. Nrf-2 transcription factor inhibitor, brusatol, significantly decreased MaR 1-induced nuclear Nrf-2 and cytosolic HO-1 expression. In conclusion, these results indicate that MaR 1 protects against lung I/R injury through suppressing oxidative stress. The mechanism is partially explained by activation of the Nrf-2-mediated HO-1 signaling pathway.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoli Xu ◽  
Huimin Huang ◽  
Xiangyi Yin ◽  
Hongmei Fang ◽  
Xiaoyue Shen

Abstract We aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanism of lentivirus-mediated overexpression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in oxidative stress injury and inflammatory response in the lung tissue of mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD mouse model induced by cigarette smoke was established and normal mice were used as control. The mice were assigned into a normal group (control), a model group (untreated), an oe-CFTR group (injection of lentivirus overexpressing CFTR), and an oe-NC group (negative control, injection of lentivirus expressing irrelevant sequences). Compared with the oe-NC group, the oe-CFTR group had higher CFTR expression and a better recovery of pulmonary function. CFTR overexpression could inhibit the pulmonary endothelial cell apoptosis, reduce the levels of glutathione (GSH), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and increase the values of superoxide dismutase (SOD), GSH peroxidase (GSH-Px), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). The overexpression also led to reductions in the white blood cell (WBC) count in alveolus pulmonis, the concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, and the protein expressions of NF-κB p65, ERK, JNK, p-EPK, and p-JNK related to MAPK/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway. In conclusion, CFTR overexpression can protect lung tissues from injuries caused by oxidative stress and inflammatory response in COPD mouse model. The mechanism behind this may be related to the suppression of MAPK/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Wen Li ◽  
Shiyu Hu ◽  
Xuepeng Chen ◽  
Jiejun Shi

Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) is characterized by chronic inflammatory degradation of mandibular condylar cartilage (MCC). Studies have found a positive correlation between inflammation and cyclooxygenase- (COX-) 2 in OA pathology. NF-κB is a crucial transcription factor of inflammatory and immune responses in the cause of TMJOA pathology. Resveratrol (RES) plays a critical role in antioxidation and anti-inflammation. But, studies on the effects of RES on TMJOA are very limited. So, the purpose of this study is to investigate the antioxidant and protective effects of RES against MCC degradation through downregulating COX-2/NF-κB expression. In vitro studies, the MCC cells were divided into three groups: the NC group, OA group, and RES group. The optimum dose of RES (10 μM) was determined. The TMJOA model of mice was created by injection of collagenase. And mice were injected with RES (100 μg/10 μl) 3 times one week for 4 weeks in the RES group. The expressions of COX-2, P65, MMP1, MMP13, COL2, and ACAN were measured by RT-PCR. Morphological changes of MCC were studied with HE staining. The results showed that inflammation could induce MCC degradation in vitro and vivo, while RES could reverse the degradation. Meanwhile, RES could downregulate COX-2/NF-κB/MMP expression and increase cartilage markers in vitro and vivo studies. The results indicated that RES treatment had antioxidant effects against chondrocyte apoptosis by downregulating the COX-2/NF-κB pathway in created TMJOA.


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