KIF3A knockdown sensitizes bronchial epithelia to apoptosis and aggravates airway inflammation in asthma

Airway epithelial development and function: A key player in asthma pathogenesis?

Though asthma is a common and relatively easy to diagnose disease, attempts at primary or secondary prevention, and cure, have been disappointing. The widespread use of inhaled steroids has dramatically improved asthma control but has offered nothing in terms of altering long-term outcomes or reversing airway remodeling and impairment in lung function. The inability to cure asthma is unsurprising given our limited understanding of the factors that contribute to disease initiation and persistence. New data have focused on the airway epithelium as a potentially key factor orchestrating the different stages of asthma. In this review we summarize for the clinician the current evidence on the central role of the airway epithelium in asthma pathogenesis and the factors that may alter epithelial integrity and functionality.

Kinesin family member 3A induces related diseases via wingless-related integration site/β-catenin signaling pathway

Kinesin family member 3A is an important motor protein that participates in various physiological and pathological processes, including normal tissue development, homeostasis maintenance, tumor infiltration, and migration. The wingless-related integration site/β-catenin signaling pathway is essential for critical molecular mechanisms such as embryonic development, organogenesis, tissue regeneration, and carcinogenesis. Recent studies have examined the molecular mechanisms of kinesin family member 3A, among which the wingless-related integration site/β-catenin signaling pathway has gained attention. The interaction between kinesin family member 3A and the wingless-related integration site/β-catenin signaling pathway is compact and complex but is fascinating and worthy of further study. The upregulation and downregulation of kinesin family member 3A influence many diseases and patient survival through the wingless-related integration site/β-catenin signaling pathway. Therefore, this review mainly focuses on describing the kinesin family member 3A and wingless-related integration site/β-catenin signaling pathways and their associated diseases.

Codonopsis laceolata Water Extract Ameliorates Asthma Severity by Inducing Th2 Cells’ and Pulmonary Epithelial Cells’ Apoptosis via NF-κB/COX-2 Pathway

Asthma is an incurable pulmonary disease with several symptoms, including abnormal breathing, coughing, and sleep apnea, which can lead to death, and the population of asthma patients has been increasing worldwide. There are many adverse effects in current drugs, and thus, we have tried to develop anti-asthmatic agents from natural products such as Codonopsis laceolata. To define the anti-asthmatic effect and the mechanism of Codonopsis laceolata, an animal study was conducted considering different cell counts of BALF, serum IgE levels, morphological changes in the pulmonary system, the Th2 cell transcription factor (GATA-3), and the apoptotic pathway (NF-κB/COX-2). Codonopsis laceolata significantly suppressed the representative asthmatic changes, such as airway remodeling, mucous hypersecretion, epithelial hyperplasia, and inflammatory cell infiltration, in the respiratory system. It suppressed the levels of GATA-3, IL-4, and IL-13. The down-regulation of Th2-related factors, such as GATA-3, IL-4, and IL-13, results from the stimulated apoptosis of Th2 cells and epithelial cells via a decrease in the levels of NF-κB and COX-2. We concluded that Codonopsis laceolata might be a promising anti-asthmatic drug.

The Role of Osthole on TGF-β-Induced Lung Epithelium Apoptosis Injury and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Mediated Airway Remodeling in Pediatric Asthma

Osthole, a coumarin compound derived from Fructus Cnidii, exerts anti-inflammatory effects in an asthma model. But the effect of osthole on epithelial injury and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in asthma remains unclear. 16HBE cells were incubated with TGF-β1 with or without osthole in vitro. Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic mouse model was established in vivo. Cell counting kit-8 was carried out to evaluate the viability of 16HBE cells. The impact of osthole on TGF-β1-evoked cell apoptosis and EMT process was measured by flow cytometry based on Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, transwell assay, immunofluorescence, and Western blot. The regulatory role of osthole in TGF-β1/Smad and p38, ERK1/2, and JNK MAPK signaling was detected via Western blot. Osthole treatment significantly suppressed TGF-β1-induced 16HBE cell apoptosis, verified by a reduced percentage of apoptotic cells, decreased expression of proapoptotic proteins (cleaved-caspase3 and Bax), and enhanced antiapoptotic factor (Bcl-2) expression. In addition, the promotive impact of TGF-β1 on the migration of 16HBE cells was reversed by osthole, accompanied by elevated E-cadherin expression and reduced Snail and N-cadherin expression. The activation of the Smad2/3 and MAPKs pathway evoked by TGF-β1 was inhibited by osthole in 16HBE cells. We also found that osthole mitigated airway epithelium injury and subepithelial fibrosis in OVA-challenged asthmatic mice in vivo. Osthole could mitigate TGF-β1-induced epithelial cell injury and EMT process by suppressing the activation of MAPK and Smad2/3 pathways separately. Our present study showed a new insight into understanding the underlying mechanism of osthole injury on epithelium injury and subepithelial fibrosis in airway remodeling. Asthma, epithelial injury, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and airway remodeling are the effects of osthole on airway remodeling.

Inflammation in Asthma Pathogenesis: Role of T cells, Macrophages, Epithelial Cells and Type 2 Inflammation

Asthma is a chronic disease with abnormal inflammatory and immunological responses. The disease initiated by antigens in subjects with genetic susceptibility. However, environmental factors play a role in the initiation and exacerbation of asthma attack. Asthma is T helper 2 (Th2)-cell-mediated disease. Recent studies indicated that asthma is not a single disease entity, but it is with multiple phenotypes and endotypes. The pathophysiological changes in asthma included a series of subsequent continuous vicious circle of cellular activation contributed to induction of chemokines and cytokines that potentiate inflammation. The heterogeneity of asthma influenced the treatment response. The asthma pathogenesis driven by varied set of cells such as eosinophils, basophils, neutrophils, mast cells, macrophages, epithelial cells and T cells. In this review the role of T cells, macrophage, and epithelial cells are discussed.

Mechanisms of allergy and adult asthma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Allergic asthma reflects the interplay between inflammatory mediators and immune, airway epithelial, and other cells. This review summarizes key insights in these areas over the past year.

RECENT FINDINGS

Key findings over the past year demonstrate that epithelial cells mediate tight junction breakdown to facilitate the development of asthma-like disease in mice. Innate lymph lymphoid cells (ILC), while previously shown to promote allergic airway disease, have now been shown to inhibit the development of severe allergic disease in mice. Fibrinogen cleavage products (previously shown to mediate allergic airway disease and macrophage fungistatic immunity by signaling through Toll-like receptor 4) have now been shown to first bind to the integrin Mac-1 (CD11c/CD18). Therapeutically, recent discoveries include the development of the antiasthma drug PM-43I that inhibits the allergy-related transcription factors STAT5 and STAT6 in mice, and confirmatory evidence of the efficacy of the antifungal agent voriconazole in human asthma.

SUMMARY

Studies over the past year provide critical new insight into the mechanisms by which epithelial cells, ILC, and coagulation factors contribute to the expression of asthma-like disease and further support the development antiasthma drugs that block STAT factors and inhibit fungal growth in the airways.

Kinesin family member 3A stimulates cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of bladder cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors of the urinary system, with high morbidity and mortality. At present, the survival rates and prognosis of patients with bladder cancer are still relatively low; thus, there remains a need to improve prognosis by identifying novel targets. Kinesins (kinesin superfamily proteins) are a series of microtubule-based motor proteins that mediate various types of cellular processes. Kinesin family member 3A (KIF3A) is critical for cytoplasm separation in mitosis, and it has been reported to be misexpressed in multiple types of cancer. However, its effects on the progression and development of bladder cancer remain unclear. Herein, we report that KIF3A is highly expressed in human bladder cancer. We identified a significant correlation between KIF3A and clinical features, including clinical stage (P = 0.047), pathological tumor status (P = 0.045), lymph node status (P = 0.041) and metastasis (P = 0.035). KIF3A expression was also correlated with poor prognosis of patients with bladder cancer. Our results further indicated that KIF3A ablation resulted in cell cycle arrest; blocked the proliferation, migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells in vitro; and restrained tumor growth in mice in a microtubule-dependent manner. In summary, our findings suggest that KIF3A is a potential therapeutic target for bladder cancer.

Kinesin family member 3A inhibits the carcinogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer and prolongs survival

Kinesin family member 3A (KIF3A) plays a crucial role in the carcinogenesis of different types of human cancer. The present study aimed to identify the role of KIF3A in the carcinogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). KIF3A protein expression was determined in 163 patients with NSCLC using immunohistochemistry staining. The prognosis of patients with NSCLC was determined using Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses. The function of KIF3A on the carcinogenesis and metastasis of NSCLC was determined in vitro. Furthermore, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of KIF3A was constructed and the potential interacting molecules were identified using bioinformatic analysis. The protein expression levels of KIF3A were significantly lower in the NSCLC tissues compared with that in the adjacent tissues, and low KIF3A expression level was associated with unfavorable survival outcomes in patients with NSCLC. Furthermore, KIF3A knockdown increased proliferation, invasion and metastasis, and inhibited apoptosis of NSCLC cells. KIF3A was demonstrated to interact with intraflagellar transport 57 (IFT57) in the PPI network. In addition, validation analyses indicated that KIF3A mRNA expression levels were positively correlated with IFT57 mRNA expression levels in clinical NSCLC samples and NSCLC cell lines. Taken together, the results of the present study suggested that KIF3A is a key tumor suppressor gene for carcinogenesis and metastasis of NSCLC, it may also function as a biomarker and interacts with IFT57 in the progression of NSCLC.

P53 in the impaired lungs

Our laboratory is focused on investigating the supportive role of P53 towards the maintenance of lung homeostasis. Acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, bronchial asthma, pulmonary arterial hypertension, pneumonia and tuberculosis are respiratory pathologies, associated with dysfunctions of this endothelium defender (P53). Herein we review the evolving role of P53 towards the aforementioned inflammatory disorders, to potentially reveal new therapeutic possibilities in pulmonary disease.

Disease-associated KIF3A variants alter gene methylation and expression impacting skin barrier and atopic dermatitis risk

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene encoding kinesin family member 3A, KIF3A, have been associated with atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disorder. We find that KIF3A SNP rs11740584 and rs2299007 risk alleles create cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites, which are highly methylated and result in lower KIF3A expression, and this methylation is associated with increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in risk allele carriers. Kif3a^K14∆/∆ mice have increased TEWL, disrupted junctional proteins, and increased susceptibility to develop AD. Thus, KIF3A is required for skin barrier homeostasis whereby decreased KIF3A skin expression causes disrupted skin barrier function and promotes development of AD.

Genetic variants in KIF3A are associated with atopic dermatitis (AD). Here, the authors identify two AD-risk alleles that show high methylation resulting in lower KIF3A expression. Mice with epidermis-specific loss of Kif3a show disrupted skin barrier homeostasis and increased AD susceptibility.

Epithelial cell dysfunction, a major driver of asthma development

Airway epithelial barrier dysfunction is frequently observed in asthma and may have important implications. The physical barrier function of the airway epithelium is tightly interwoven with its immunomodulatory actions, while abnormal epithelial repair responses may contribute to remodelling of the airway wall. We propose that abnormalities in the airway epithelial barrier play a crucial role in the sensitization to allergens and pathogenesis of asthma. Many of the identified susceptibility genes for asthma are expressed in the airway epithelium, supporting the notion that events at the airway epithelial surface are critical for the development of the disease. However, the exact mechanisms by which the expression of epithelial susceptibility genes translates into a functionally altered response to environmental risk factors of asthma are still unknown. Interactions between genetic factors and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms may be crucial for asthma susceptibility. Understanding these mechanisms may lead to identification of novel targets for asthma intervention by targeting the airway epithelium. Moreover, exciting new insights have come from recent studies using single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐Seq) to study the airway epithelium in asthma. This review focuses on the role of airway epithelial barrier function in the susceptibility to develop asthma and novel insights in the modulation of epithelial cell dysfunction in asthma.

Atractylenolide III reduces NLRP3 inflammasome activation and Th1/Th2 imbalances in both in vitro and in vivo models of asthma

Paediatric asthma is a common inflammatory disease in children. Atractylenolide III is an active component of the Atractylodes rhizome, an herbal medicine that has been used as an asthma treatment. This study aimed to explore the effects and underlying mechanisms of atractylenolide III in IL-4-induced 16HBE cells and ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mice. The results showed that IL-4 stimulation significantly decreased, and atractylenolide III treatment increased, growth and apoptosis of 16HBE cells. In 16HBE cells, administration of atractylenolide III also significantly suppressed the IL-4-induced increases in the expression of cleaved caspase-1; apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC); and nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat protein 3 (NLRP3). Moreover, the numbers of total leukocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and macrophages significantly increased in ovalbumin-induced mice, and then decreased after atractylenolide III treatment. In ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mice, atractylenolide III treatment also significantly inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation and restored the Th1/Th2 balance. These results indicate that atractylenolide III reduced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and regulated the Th1/Th2 balance in IL-4 induced 16HBE cells and ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mice, suggesting it has a protective effect that may be useful in the treatment of paediatric asthma.

Cucurbitacin E ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-evoked injury, inflammation and MUC5AC expression in bronchial epithelial cells by restraining the HMGB1-TLR4-NF-κB signaling

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of airway affecting people from childhood to old age, and is characterized by airway epithelial dysfunction. Cucurbitacin E (CuE), a tetracyclic triterpene isolated from Cucurbitaceae plants, has been recently proved to exert anti-inflammation and immunology regulation activities. Nevertheless, its roles in asthma remains poorly defined. In the current study, CuE had little cytotoxicity on cell viability of human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure inhibited cell viability and induced cell apoptosis, which was reversed following CuE pretreatment. Additionally, CuE administration suppressed LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine production, including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8. Simultaneously, supplementation with CuE decreased the transcripts and releases of mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) in LPS-treated BEAS-2B cells. Intriguingly, CuE inhibited LPS-evoked activation of the high-mobility group box1 (HMGB1)-TLR4-NF-κB signaling by reducing the expression of HMGB1, TLR4 and p-p65 NF-κB. Notably, restoring this pathway by elevating HMGB1 expression largely offset the protective function of CuE against LPS-triggered cell injury, inflammatory response and MUC5AC expression. Consequently, these findings highlight that CuE can ameliorate human bronchial epithelial cell insult and inflammation under LPS-simulated asthmatic conditions by blocking the HMGB1-TLR4-NF-κB signaling, thereby supporting its usefulness as a promising therapeutic agent against asthma.