scholarly journals Autophagy Augmentation to Alleviate Immune Response Dysfunction, and Resolve Respiratory and COVID-19 Exacerbations

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garrett Pehote ◽  
Neeraj Vij

The preservation of cellular homeostasis requires the synthesis of new proteins (proteostasis) and organelles, and the effective removal of misfolded or impaired proteins and cellular debris. This cellular homeostasis involves two key proteostasis mechanisms, the ubiquitin proteasome system and the autophagy–lysosome pathway. These catabolic pathways have been known to be involved in respiratory exacerbations and the pathogenesis of various lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), acute lung injury (ALI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Briefly, proteostasis and autophagy processes are known to decline over time with age, cigarette or biomass smoke exposure, and/or influenced by underlying genetic factors, resulting in the accumulation of misfolded proteins and cellular debris, elevating apoptosis and cellular senescence, and initiating the pathogenesis of acute or chronic lung disease. Moreover, autophagic dysfunction results in an impaired microbial clearance, post-bacterial and/or viral infection(s) which contribute to the initiation of acute and recurrent respiratory exacerbations as well as the progression of chronic obstructive and restrictive lung diseases. In addition, the autophagic dysfunction-mediated cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) immune response impairment further exacerbates the lung disease. Recent studies demonstrate the therapeutic potential of novel autophagy augmentation strategies, in alleviating the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive or restrictive lung diseases and exacerbations such as those commonly seen in COPD, CF, ALI/ARDS and COVID-19.

Author(s):  
Vivek N. Iyer

Obstructive lung diseases include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (eg, chronic bronchitis and emphysema), asthma, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, obliterative bronchiolitis, and diffuse panbronchiolitis (eg, bullous lung disease, α‎1-antitrypsin deficiency, and airway stenosis). The 2 most prevalent obstructive lung diseases are COPD and asthma.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 5018
Author(s):  
Michael C. McKelvey ◽  
Ryan Brown ◽  
Sinéad Ryan ◽  
Marcus A. Mall ◽  
Sinéad Weldon ◽  
...  

Dysregulated protease activity has long been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic lung diseases and especially in conditions that display mucus obstruction, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. However, our appreciation of the roles of proteases in various aspects of such diseases continues to grow. Patients with muco-obstructive lung disease experience progressive spirals of inflammation, mucostasis, airway infection and lung function decline. Some therapies exist for the treatment of these symptoms, but they are unable to halt disease progression and patients may benefit from novel adjunct therapies. In this review, we highlight how proteases act as multifunctional enzymes that are vital for normal airway homeostasis but, when their activity becomes immoderate, also directly contribute to airway dysfunction, and impair the processes that could resolve disease. We focus on how proteases regulate the state of mucus at the airway surface, impair mucociliary clearance and ultimately, promote mucostasis. We discuss how, in parallel, proteases are able to promote an inflammatory environment in the airways by mediating proinflammatory signalling, compromising host defence mechanisms and perpetuating their own proteolytic activity causing structural lung damage. Finally, we discuss some possible reasons for the clinical inefficacy of protease inhibitors to date and propose that, especially in a combination therapy approach, proteases represent attractive therapeutic targets for muco-obstructive lung diseases.


SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A321-A322
Author(s):  
William LeMaster ◽  
Dale Jun ◽  
Sharon De Cruz ◽  
Michelle Zeidler ◽  
Rajan Saggar

Abstract Introduction Chronic hypercapnia results from destruction of lung parenchyma which occurs in chronic lung diseases including interstitial lung disease (ILD), bronchiectasis, and chronic lung transplant rejection. Many patients with these diseases will experience progressive respiratory failure eventually requiring consideration of transplantation or re-transplantation. Due to physiologic changes in sleep including reduction in tidal volume, worsening air tapping, and REM atonia, hypoventilation can be exacerbated during the sleeping hours. We present four patients who were prescribed nocturnal Volume Assured Pressure Support VAPS for their progressive hypercapnia. Report of case(s) Subject 1 is a 72 year old female with severe bronchiectasis and restrictive lung disease due to TB pneumonia at a young age. Subject 2 is a 45 year old male with history of pulmonary cavitation due to extensive TB disease when he was younger. Subject 3 is a 45-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis related ILD with associated pulmonary arterial hypertension. Subject 4 is a 74 year old patient with a bilateral lung transplant for IPF complicated by bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome who presented with progressive dyspnea and hypercapnia. Despite optimal therapy, all of these patients were admitted for hypercapnic and hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring treatment with BPAP then transitioned to nocturnal VAPS on discharge. For all patients, dyspnea and pCO2 improved as outpatients although all patients did eventually experience an exacerbation of their lung disease requiring repeat admission. Conclusion Due to the physiologic changes that occur with sleep, patients with severe lung disease may experience worsening CO2 retention while sleeping. There is little data assessing the use of chronic nocturnal non-invasive ventilation (NIV) to treat the hypercapnia of chronic lung diseases other than chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, extra-thoracic restriction, and neuromuscular disease. In this case series, nocturnal VAPS stabilized and/or reduced pCO2 in patients with pulmonary parenchymal disease of various etiologies. Additional studies are needed to assess long term effects of VAPS in these patients, including exacerbations, symptoms, and overall mortality. Support (if any):


Author(s):  
Manoj Sivan ◽  
Margaret Phillips ◽  
Ian Baguley ◽  
Melissa Nott

Respiratory aspects of rehabilitation fall into two broad and overlapping categories. One is that of pulmonary rehabilitation which traditionally has focused on exercise, behaviour change, and educational-based intervention for those with chronic lung disease, predominantly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but its efficacy has since been proven in other chronic respiratory conditions (e.g. asthma, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, lung transplantation, and pulmonary hypertension). The other is rehabilitation in the context of neurogenic respiratory impairment, which is relevant to persons with both degenerative and monophasic-onset neurological conditions. These categories are overlapping as techniques from one may have relevance to the other. This chapter describes these aspects, investigations, and interventions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentino Bezzerri ◽  
Francesca Lucca ◽  
Sonia Volpi ◽  
Marco Cipolli

Abstract The Veneto region is one of the most affected Italian regions by COVID-19. Chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), may constitute a risk factor in COVID-19. Moreover, respiratory viruses were generally associated with severe pulmonary impairment in cystic fibrosis (CF). We would have therefore expected numerous cases of severe COVID-19 among the CF population. Surprisingly, we found that CF patients were significantly protected against infection by SARS-CoV-2. We discussed this aspect formulating some reasonable theories.


2016 ◽  
Vol 397 (6) ◽  
pp. 485-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Laval ◽  
Anjali Ralhan ◽  
Dominik Hartl

Abstract Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterized by chronic infection and inflammation. Among inflammatory cells, neutrophils represent the major cell population accumulating in the airways of CF patients. While neutrophils provide the first defensive cellular shield against bacterial and fungal pathogens, in chronic disease conditions such as CF these short-lived immune cells release their toxic granule contents that cause tissue remodeling and irreversible structural damage to the host. A variety of human and murine studies have analyzed neutrophils and their products in the context of CF, yet their precise functional role and therapeutic potential remain controversial and incompletely understood. Here, we summarize the current evidence in this field to shed light on the complex and multi-faceted role of neutrophils in CF lung disease.


2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 1042-1054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus A. Mall ◽  
Dominik Hartl

Cystic fibrosis (CF) remains the most common fatal hereditary lung disease. The discovery of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene 25 years ago set the stage for: 1) unravelling the molecular and cellular basis of CF lung disease; 2) the generation of animal models to study in vivo pathogenesis; and 3) the development of mutation-specific therapies that are now becoming available for a subgroup of patients with CF. This article highlights major advances in our understanding of how CFTR dysfunction causes chronic mucus obstruction, neutrophilic inflammation and bacterial infection in CF airways. Furthermore, we focus on recent breakthroughs and remaining challenges of novel therapies targeting the basic CF defect, and discuss the next steps to be taken to make disease-modifying therapies available to a larger group of patients with CF, including those carrying the most common mutation ΔF508-CFTR. Finally, we will summarise emerging evidence indicating that acquired CFTR dysfunction may be implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, suggesting that lessons learned from CF may be applicable to common airway diseases associated with mucus plugging.


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