Vitamin C supplementation does not improve hypoxia-induced erythropoiesis

Protective effect of aqueous extract of Reineckea carnea (Andrews) Kunth against cigarette smoke-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in mice and its impact on gut microbiota

Reineckea carnea (Andrews) Kunth (RCK) is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. But, its effects and underlying mechanisms on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of RCK on COPD and to elucidate the mechanisms by which it modulates gut microbiota. A COPD mouse model was established through exposure to cigarette smoke (CS). Mice were then treated with oral administration of RCK aqueous extract. The anti-inflammatory effects and efficacy of RCK aqueous extract on COPD, as well as changes in microbiota composition, were evaluated. RCK aqueous extract ameliorated gut dysbiosis in CS-induced COPD mice by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacterial phyla and reducing the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. Importantly, RCK treatment inhibited the expression of inflammatory mediators, such as IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α at both mRNA levels and protein levels, attenuated oxidative stress in vivo in mice, and suppressed CS-induced activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby attenuating lung inflammation and restoring lung tissue structure. In conclusion, the beneficial effects of RCK aqueous extract on CS-induced COPD may be attributed to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as well as its ability to modulate gut microbial composition.

Isorhamnetin Alleviates Airway Inflammation by Regulating the Nrf2/Keap1 Pathway in a Mouse Model of COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a severely disabling chronic lung disease characterized by persistent airway inflammation, which leads to limited expiratory airflow that deteriorates over time. Isorhamnetin (Iso) is one of the most important active components in the fruit of Hippophae rhamnoides L. and leaves of Ginkgo biloba L, which is widely used in many pulmonary disease studies because of its anti-inflammatory effects. Here, we investigated the pharmacological action of Iso in CS-induced airway inflammation and dissected the anti-inflammation mechanisms of Iso in COPD mice. A mouse model of COPD was established by exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) and intratracheal inhalation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our results illustrated that Iso treatment significantly reduced leukocyte recruitment and excessive secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in BALF of CS-induced COPD mice in a dose-dependent manner. This improved airway collagen deposition and emphysema, and further alleviated the decline in lung functions and systemic symptoms of hypoxia and weight loss. Additionally, Iso treatment obviously improves the T lymphocyte dysregualtion in peripheral blood of COPD mice. Mechanistically, Iso may degrade Keap1 through ubiquitination of p62, thereby activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) pathway to increase the expression of protective factors, such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), superoxide dismutase (SOD) 1, and SOD2, in lungs of CS-exposed mice, which plays an anti-inflammatory role in COPD. In conclusion, our study indicates that Iso significantly alleviates the inflammatory response in CS-induced COPD mice mainly by affecting the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway. More importantly, Iso exhibited anti-inflammatory effects comparable with Dex in COPD and we did not observe discernible side effects of Iso. The high safety profile of Iso may make it a potential drug candidate for COPD.

Contrasting effects of ascorbate and iron on the pulmonary vascular response to hypoxia in humans

Hypoxia causes an increase in pulmonary artery pressure. Gene expression controlled by the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) family of transcription factors plays an important role in the underlying pulmonary vascular responses. The hydroxylase enzymes that regulate HIF are highly sensitive to varying iron availability, and iron status modifies the pulmonary vascular response to hypoxia, possibly through its effects on HIF. Ascorbate (vitamin C) affects HIF hydroxylation in a similar manner to iron and may therefore have similar pulmonary effects. This study investigated the possible contribution of ascorbate availability to hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in humans. Seven healthy volunteers undertook a randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover protocol which studied the effects of high-dose intravenous ascorbic acid (total 6 g) on the pulmonary vascular response to 5 h of sustained hypoxia. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) was assessed during hypoxia by Doppler echocardiography. Results were compared with corresponding data from a similar study investigating the effect of intravenous iron, in which SPAP was measured in seven healthy volunteers during 8 h of sustained hypoxia. Consistent with other studies, iron supplementation profoundly inhibited hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (P < 0.001). In contrast, supraphysiological supplementation of ascorbate did not affect the increase in pulmonary artery pressure induced by several hours of hypoxia (P = 0.61). We conclude that ascorbate does not interact with hypoxia and the pulmonary circulation in the same manner as iron. Whether the effects of iron are HIF-mediated remains unknown, and the extent to which ascorbate contributes to HIF hydroxylation in vivo is also unclear.