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He Y, Gang B, Zhang M, Bai Y, Wan Z, Pan J, Liu J, Liu G, Gu W. ACE2 improves endothelial cell function and reduces acute lung injury by downregulating FAK expression. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 128:111535. [PMID: 38246001 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Endothelial cell (EC) barrier dysfunction and increased adhesion of immune inflammatory cells to ECs crucially contribute to acute lung injury (ALI). Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an essential regulator of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and exerts characteristic vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory effects. SARS-COV-2 infects the lungs by binding to ACE2, which can lead to dysregulation of ACE2 expression, further leading to ALI with predominantly vascular inflammation and eventually to more severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Therefore, restoration of ACE2 expression represents a valuable therapeutic approach for SARS-COV-2-related ALI/ARDS. In this study, we used polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly(I:C)), a double-stranded RNA analog, to construct a mouse ALI model that mimics virus infection. After Poly(I:C) exposure, ACE2 was downregulated in mouse lung tissues and in cultured ECs. Treatment with DIZE, an ACE2-activating compound, upregulated ACE2 expression and relieved ALI in mice. DIZE also improved barrier function and reduced the number of THP-1 monocytes adhering to cultured ECs. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and phosphorylated FAK (p-FAK) levels were increased in lung tissues of ALI mice as well as in Poly(I:C)-treated ECs in vitro. Both DIZE and the FAK inhibitor PF562271 decreased FAK/p-FAK expression in both ALI models, attenuating ALI severity in vivo and increasing barrier function and reducing monocyte adhesion in cultured ECs. Furthermore, in vivo experiments using ANG 1-7 and the MAS inhibitor A779 corroborated that DIZE-mediated ACE2 activation stimulated the activity of the ANG 1-7/MAS axis, which inhibited FAK/p-FAK expression in the mouse lung. These findings provide further evidence that activation of ACE2 in ECs may be a valuable therapeutic strategy for ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan He
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China
| | - Baocai Gang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China
| | - Mengjie Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China
| | - Yuting Bai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China
| | - Ziyu Wan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China
| | - Jiesong Pan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China
| | - Jie Liu
- College of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, PR China
| | - Guoquan Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China.
| | - Wei Gu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China.
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Zhang L, Wu Q, Huang Y, Zheng J, Guo S, He L. Formononetin ameliorates airway inflammation by suppressing ESR1/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling in asthma. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 168:115799. [PMID: 37922653 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Since inhaled glucocorticoids are the first-line treatment for asthma, asthma management becomes extremely difficult when asthma does not react well to glucocorticoids. Formononetin, a bioactive isoflavone and typical phytoestrogen, has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory impact while alleviating epithelial barrier dysfunction, which plays a role in the pathogenesis of allergic illnesses like asthma. However, the biological mechanisms behind this impact are unknown. As a result, we set out to investigate the effects of formononetin on airway inflammation and epithelial barrier repair in house dust mite (HDM)-induced asthmatic mice. We further expanded on formononetin's putative mode of action in reducing airway inflammation by modifying epithelial barrier dysfunction. In the current study, researchers discovered that formononetin significantly lowered total IgE levels in serum and interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and IL-17A levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in HDM-challenged asthmatic mice. Experiments on cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis were performed in vitro to determine the effect of formononetin on bronchial epithelial barrier repair. Furthermore, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated 16HBE cells, formononetin increased cell proliferation and migration while preventing apoptosis and lowering the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. In vitro and in vivo, formononetin significantly inhibited toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and estrogen receptor (ESR1)/Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3)/Caspase-1 signaling. These findings show that formononetin can reduce airway inflammation in HDM-challenged asthmatic mice by promoting epithelial barrier repair and possibly by inhibiting ESR1/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling as the underlying mechanism; formononetin could be a promising alternative treatment for asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Wu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuying Huang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Zheng
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sheng Guo
- Department of Endocrine, Genetics and Metabolism, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Li He
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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