scholarly journals BML-111 suppresses TGF-β1-induced lung fibroblast activation in�vitro and decreases experimental pulmonary fibrosis in�vivo

Author(s):  
Yu‑Dong Ji ◽  
Zhen‑Long Luo ◽  
Chun‑Xiu Chen ◽  
Bo Li ◽  
Jie Gong ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1985
Author(s):  
Xiaohe Li ◽  
Ling Ma ◽  
Kai Huang ◽  
Yuli Wei ◽  
Shida Long ◽  
...  

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal and age-related pulmonary disease. Nintedanib is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and one of the only two listed drugs against IPF. Regorafenib is a novel, orally active, multi-kinase inhibitor that has similar targets to nintedanib and is applied to treat colorectal cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumors in patients. In this study, we first identified that regorafenib could alleviate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. The in vivo experiments indicated that regorafenib suppresses collagen accumulation and myofibroblast activation. Further in vitro mechanism studies showed that regorafenib inhibits the activation and migration of myofibroblasts and extracellular matrix production, mainly through suppressing the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/Smad and non-Smad signaling pathways. In vitro studies have also indicated that regorafenib could augment autophagy in myofibroblasts by suppressing TGF-β1/mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) signaling, and could promote apoptosis in myofibroblasts. In conclusion, regorafenib attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by suppressing the TGF-β1 signaling pathway.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohe Li ◽  
Rui Liu ◽  
Yunyao Cui ◽  
Jingjing Liang ◽  
Zhun Bi ◽  
...  

Pulmonary fibrosis is a known sequela of severe or persistent lung damage. Existing clinical, imaging and autopsy studies have shown that the lungs exhibit a pathological pulmonary fibrosis phenotype after infection with coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Pulmonary fibrosis may be one of the most serious sequelae associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this study, we aimed to examine the preventative effects of the antiviral drug remdesivir on pulmonary fibrosis. We used a mouse model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis to evaluate the effects of remdesivir on pulmonary fibrosis in vivo and further explored the potential pharmacological mechanisms of remdesivir in lung fibroblasts and alveolar epithelial cells in vitro. The preventive remdesivir treatment was started on the day of bleomycin installation, and the results showed that remdesivir significantly alleviated bleomycin-induced collagen deposition and improved pulmonary function. In vitro experiments showed that remdesivir dose-dependently suppressed TGF-β1-induced lung fibroblast activation and improved TGF-β1-induced alveolar epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Our results indicate that remdesivir can preventatively alleviate the severity of pulmonary fibrosis and provide some reference for the prevention of pulmonary fibrosis in patients with COVID-19.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth F. Redente ◽  
Sangeeta Chakraborty ◽  
Satria Sajuthi ◽  
Bart P. Black ◽  
Benjamin L. Edelman ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, irreversible fibrotic disease of the distal lung alveoli that culminates in respiratory failure and reduced lifespan. Unlike normal lung repair in response to injury, IPF is associated with the accumulation and persistence of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts and continued production of collagen and other extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Prior in vitro studies have led to the hypothesis that the development of resistance to Fas-induced apoptosis by lung fibroblasts and myofibroblasts contibributes to their accumulation in the distal lung tissues of IPF patients. Here, we test this hypothesis in vivo in the resolving model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Using genetic loss-of-function approaches to inhibit Fas signaling in fibroblasts, novel flow cytometry strategies to quantify lung fibroblast subsets and transcriptional profiling of lung fibroblasts by bulk and single cell RNA-sequencing, we show that Fas is necessary for lung fibroblast apoptosis during homeostatic resolution of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in vivo. Furthermore, we show that loss of Fas signaling leads to the persistence and continued pro-fibrotic functions of lung fibroblasts. Our studies provide novel insights into the mechanisms that contribute to fibroblast survival, persistence and continued ECM deposition in the context of IPF and how failure to undergo Fas-induced apoptosis prevents fibrosis resolution.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1934578X2094835
Author(s):  
Wenyue Zhuang ◽  
Na Zhao ◽  
Di Li ◽  
Xiaoming Su ◽  
Yueyang Wang ◽  
...  

There is no effective method for treating pulmonary fibrosis (PF) until now. This study investigated the anti-fibrotic effect of schisantherin A (SCA) extracted from Schisandra chinensis and its potential molecular mechanism in PF. A bleomycin-induced PF mouse model in vivo and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced A549 epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) cell model in vitro were used for assessing the anti-fibrotic effect of SCA. Histopathological examination was conducted after hematoxylin and eosin and Masson staining. The level of TGF-β1 was tested by ELISA. The expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin, E-cadherin, and inflammatory cytokines (COX2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) were determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. The expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was tested in lung tissues and cells by Western blot. The in vivo experiments revealed that SCA treatment markedly improved body weight and pulmonary index and reformed the destruction of the lung tissue structure. We observed that SCA inhibited the process of TGF-β1-induced EMT in the in vitro experiments. Inflammatory cytokines were reduced greatly in lung tissues and cells by SCA. Our study also indicated that SCA decreased phosphorylated ERK. It was concluded that SCA can attenuate PF by regulating the ERK signaling pathway, which suggests that SCA may be used as a potential therapeutic drug for PF.


Author(s):  
Lin Chen ◽  
Azeem Alam ◽  
Aurelie Pac-Soo ◽  
Qian Chen ◽  
You Shang ◽  
...  

AbstractEpithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in the development of pulmonary fibrosis. This study aims to investigate the effects of valproic acid (VPA) on EMT in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, EMT was induced by the administration of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in a human alveolar epithelial cell line (A549). The dose effects of VPA (0.1–3 mM) on EMT were subsequently evaluated at different timepoints. VPA (1 mM) was applied prior to the administration of TGF-β1 and the expression of E-cadherin, vimentin, p-Smad2/3 and p-Akt was assessed. In addition, the effects of a TGF-β type I receptor inhibitor (A8301) and PI3K-Akt inhibitor (LY294002) on EMT were evaluated. In vivo, the effects of VPA on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis were evaluated by assessing variables such as survival rate, body weight and histopathological changes, whilst the expression of E-cadherin and vimentin in lung tissue was also evaluated. A8301 and LY294002 were used to ascertain the cellular signaling pathways involved in this model. The administration of VPA prior to TGF-β1 in A549 cells prevented EMT in both a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with VPA downregulated the expression of both p-Smad2/3 and p-Akt. A8301 administration increased the expression of E-cadherin and reduced the expression of vimentin. LY294002 inhibited Akt phosphorylation induced by TGF-β1 but failed to prevent EMT. Pretreatment with VPA both increased the survival rate and prevented the loss of body weight in mice with pulmonary fibrosis. Interestingly, both VPA and A8301 prevented EMT and facilitated an improvement in lung structure. Overall, pretreatment with VPA attenuated the development of pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting EMT in mice, which was associated with Smad2/3 deactivation but without Akt cellular signal involvement.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuong N. Vu ◽  
Xuesong Chen ◽  
Hussein D. Foda ◽  
Gerald C. Smaldone ◽  
Nadia A. Hasaneen

Abstract Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) pathogenesis involves multiple pathways, and combined antifibrotic therapy is needed for future IPF therapy. Inhaled interferon-γ (IFN-γ) was recently shown to be safe and without systemic effects in patients with IPF. Aim To examine the in vitro effects of individual and combined treatment with IFN-γ and pirfenidone (PFD) on normal and IPF fibroblast activation and extracellular matrix remodeling after TGF-β1 and PDGF-BB stimulation. Methods IPF and normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLF) were treated with IFN-γ, PFD or a combination of both drugs in the presence of either TGF-β1 or PDGF-BB. The effects of TGF-β1 and PDGF-BB treatment on cell viability, proliferation, differentiation and migration were examined. The expression of collagen 1, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMP (TIMPs) was analyzed using qPCR, Western blotting and gelatin zymography. Total collagen content in conditioned media was also measured using a Sircol assay. Results Compared to that of PFD, the effect of IFN-γ in downregulating normal and IPF lung fibroblast differentiation to myofibroblasts in response to TGF-β1 was more potent. Importantly, the combination of IFN-γ and PFD had a possibly synergistic/additive effect in inhibiting the TGF-β1- and PDGF-BB-induced proliferation, migration and differentiation of normal and IPF lung fibroblasts. Furthermore, both drugs reversed TGF-β1-induced effects on MMP-1, − 2, − 3, − 7, and − 9, while only PFD promoted TIMP-1 and-2 expression and release. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that the antifibrotic effects of IFN-γ and PFD on normal and IPF lung fibroblasts are different and complementary. Combination therapy with inhaled IFN-γ and PFD in IPF is promising and should be further explored in IPF clinical trials.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yufeng Yao ◽  
Yue Yuan ◽  
Zenghui Lu ◽  
Yunxia Ma ◽  
Yuanyuan Xie ◽  
...  

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and irreversible interstitial pulmonary disease with a poor prognosis. The extract of Nervilia fordii (NFE) has shown remarkable benefit in the treatment of acute lung injury, lung cancer, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). However, the potential mechanism and efficacy of NFE in the treatment of IPF remain unknown. In this study, a systematic network pharmacology analysis was used to predict the mechanism and efficacy of NFE in the treatment of IPF, based on the major components of NFE elucidated by UPLC-TOF-MS/MS. The potential molecular interactions between the compounds and potential targets were predicted using molecular docking. In vivo, rats with pulmonary fibrosis induced by a single intratracheal injection of bleomycin (BLM) were orally administered NFE for 14 days. Lung index and biochemical levels were determined, and histopathological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson staining was performed. The effects of NFE on fibroblast proliferation in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and TGF-β1-induced mouse 3T6 fibroblasts were evaluated in vitro. In total, 20 components were identified in NFE, and 102 potential targets for IPF treatment were predicted. These targets potentially participate in processes regulated by transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine kinase, ERBB2, and et al. Molecular docking results predicted high affinity interactions between three components (rhamnazin, rhamnetin, and rhamnocitrin) and the potential targets, suggesting that TGF-β is the most important potential target of NFE in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. NFE significantly decreased the lung index and alleviated BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Histopathological observation of lung tissues showed that NFE alleviated inflammation and collagen deposition in BLM-induced rats. NFE inhibited the migration of LPS- and TGF-β1-induced 3T6 fibroblasts, reduced the contents of hydroxyproline and collagen, and contributed to anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation. With the intervention of NFE, the protein and RNA expression of TGF-β1, a-SMA, Smad3/4, p-Smad3/4, CTGF, and p-ERK1/2 were significantly downregulated, while Smad7 and ERK1/2 were upregulated significantly in vivo and in vitro. These findings indicated that NFE may exert therapeutic effects on pulmonary fibrosis by alleviating inflammation, oxidation, and collagen deposition. The mechanism related to the inhibition of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.


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