Surfactant protein A modulates the activities of the JAK/STAT pathway in suppressing Th1 and Th17 polarization in murine OVA-induced allergic asthma

Unravelling CD4+ T cell diversity and tissue adaptation of Tregs in abdominal aortic aneurysms through single-cell sequencing

Immune cell infiltration is a significant pathological process in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). T cells, particularly CD4+ T cells, are essential immune cells responsible for substantial infiltration of the aorta. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) in AAA have been identified as tissue-specific; however, the time, location, and mechanism of acquiring the tissue-specific phenotype are still unknown. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on CD4+ T cells from the AAA aorta and spleen, we discovered heterogeneity among CD4+ T cells and identified activated, proliferating and developed aorta Tregs. These Tregs originate in the peripheral tissues and acquire the tissue-specific phenotype in the aorta. The identification of precursors for Tregs in AAA provides new insight into the pathogenesis of AAA.

HDAC inhibitor HPTA initiates anti-tumor response by CXCL9/10-recruited CXCR3+CD4+T cells against PAHs carcinogenicity

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure in food is closely associated with the occurrence and development of breast cancer, which may attribute to altered immunotoxicity and immune regulation. Currently, cancer immunotherapy aims to promote tumor-specific T cell responses, especially CD4⁺T helper cells (Th) for anti-tumor immunity. The histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) are found to exert an anti-tumor effect by reshaping the tumor immune microenvironment, but the immune regulatory mechanism of HDACis in PAHs-induced breast tumor remains elusive. Here, using established breast cancer models induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), a potent carcinogenic agent of PAH, the novel HDACi, 2-hexyl-4-pentylene acid (HPTA) exhibited anti-tumor effect by activating T lymphocytes immune function. HPTA recruited CXCR3⁺CD4⁺T cells into chemokines CXCL9/10-enriched tumor sites, the increased secretion of CXCL9/10 was regulated by the NF-κB-mediated pathway. Furthermore, HPTA promoted Th1 differentiation and assisted cytotoxic CD8⁺T cells in the elimination of breast cancer cells. These findings support the proposition of HPTA as a potential therapeutic in the treatment of PAHs-induced carcinogenicity.

Janus kinase/signal transducers and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) and its role in Lung inflammatory disease

A key signaling channel for the signal transduction of several crucial cytokines implicated in sepsis is the JAK/STAT system. Once cytokines attach to the proper receptors, JAK kinases linked to them are activated and can selectively phosphorylate STATs. Activated STATs subsequently go to the nucleus, where they play a key role in the transcription of the target genes. Various biological activities use the JAK/STAT pathway, including hematopoiesis, immunological modulation, cell differentiation, and apoptosis. Inflammatory lung illnesses affect people worldwide and are a serious public health concern. Numerous common respiratory conditions, such as asthma, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and acute respiratory distress syndrome, are strongly influenced by inflammation. Microorganism infections or the destruction or demise of host cells are the causes of inflammation and the factors that perpetuate it. This review discusses the main elements of severe lung inflammation and how the JAK/STAT signaling pathway is essential for lung inflammation.

The most bioactive fraction of stir-fried Radix Paeoniae Alba regulating IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway in allergic asthma mouse

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Radix Paeoniae Alba (RPA), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been used frequently in the treatment of asthma. Previous studies demonstrated the dichloromethane fraction of Stir-Frying RPA (FDCM) enhanced the effect of anti-allergic asthma compared with the dichloromethane fraction of RPA (DCM).

AIM OF THE STUDY

The significant increasing of Paeoniflorin (PF), ethyl gallate (EG), 1,2,3,4,6-pentagalloylglucose (PGG) had been observed in FDCM. This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of these compounds from FDCM in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma mouse model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The significant difference contents compounds fraction (FB-40) and other fractions in FDCM were enriched by Medium Pressure Liquid Chromatography (MPLC). The pharmacodynamics was verified among all fractions in OVA-induced allergic asthma mice. Moreover, the drug dose dependence of FB-40 (0.42 mg/kg, 0.21 mg/kg, and 0.07 mg/kg), which were the most active fraction from FDCM for anti-allergic asthma, was explored. The expression of IL-6, p-STAT3, and STAT3 was analyzed by Western blot analysis. In addition, the main components of FB-40 were identified by UPLC with standards. Finally, the anti-inflammatory effects of the main components from FB-40 were detected by LPS-stimulated BEAS-2B cells using an Elisa assay.

RESULTS

The results showed that FB-40 was the most active fraction from FDCM, which could significantly improve the lung tissue pathological condition, and decrease the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). It had greater pharmacological activity than its main component PF. FB-40 also showed dose dependence and regulated the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway in allergic asthma mice. Besides, PF, Albiflorin (AF), PGG, EG, and 1,2,3,6-Tetra-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (TGG) from FB-40 were identified by UPLC with the standard. At last, in the LPS-induced BEAS-2B cell experiments, EG, PGG, 1,2,3,6-Tetra-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (TGG) showed stronger inhibiting activities of cytokine than the monoterpenoid glycosides (PF and AF).

CONCLUSION

The research proved that FB-40 was an active fraction in FDCM, which regulates IL-6/STAT3 Signaling Pathway to ameliorate allergic asthma. Gallic acids including TGG and PGG, and EG also play a role in the treatment of allergic asthma in FB-40.

Association of atopic diseases with atrial fibrillation risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Atopic diseases and atrial fibrillation (AF) seem to share an underlying inflammatory pathology. To date, some population-based studies have explored the relationship between the two. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to examine the role of atopic condition in AF risk.

Methods

All relevant observational studies in PubMed and EMBASE databases up to November 2021 were searched. In RevMan 5.3, we used random-effects or fixed-effects models to pool the effect sizes of hazard ratio (HR), odds ratio (OR) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). In addition, I² and Cochran Q test were used to evaluate the heterogeneity.

Results

A total of 2488 records were retrieved. After screening according to the predetermined criteria, 6 cohort studies and 2 case-control studies were included in this meta-analysis. Herein, the meta-analysis of 6 cohort studies suggested that atopic diseases potentially increased the AF risk with the pooled HR of 1.26 (95%CI,1.14–1.39), while the pooled effect size (OR, 1.04; 95%CI,0.74–1.46) of 2 case-control studies was not statistically significant. Based on the types of atopic diseases, further subgroup analyses of 6 cohort studies revealed that asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis all potentially increased the risk of subsequent AF with the pooled HR of 1.41 (n = 4; 95%CI, 1.25–1.58), 1.12 (n = 1; 95%CI,1.10–1.14) and 1.06 (n = 3; 95%CI, 1.01–1.12), respectively.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis demonstrated that patients with atopic diseases have a higher risk of developing AF, particularly those with asthma.

Characterization of Selective and Potent JAK1 Inhibitors Intended for the Inhaled Treatment of Asthma

Purpose

Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) is implicated in multiple inflammatory pathways that are critical for the pathogenesis of asthma, including the interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin cytokine signaling pathways, which have previously been targeted to treat allergic asthma. Here, we describe the development of AZD0449 and AZD4604, two novel and highly selective JAK1 inhibitors with promising properties for inhalation.

Methods

The effects of AZD0449 and AZD4604 in JAK1 signaling pathways were assessed by measuring phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins and chemokine release using immunoassays of whole blood from healthy human volunteers and rats. Pharmacokinetic studies performed on rats evaluated AZD0449 at a lung deposited dose of 52 μg/kg and AZD4604 at 30 µg/kg. The efficacy of AZD0449 and AZD4604 was assessed by evaluating lung inflammation (cell count and cytokine levels) and the late asthmatic response (average enhanced pause [Penh]).

Results

Both compounds inhibited JAK1-dependent cytokine signaling pathways in a dose-dependent manner in human and rat leukocytes. After intratracheal administration in rats, both compounds exhibited low systemic exposures and medium-to-long terminal lung half-lives (AZD0449, 34 hours; AZD4604, 5 hours). Both compounds inhibited STAT3 and STAT5 phosphorylation in lung tissue from ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged rats. AZD0449 and AZD4604 also inhibited eosinophilia in the lung and reduced the late asthmatic response, measured as Penh in the OVA rat model.

Conclusion

AZD0449 and AZD4604 show potential as inhibitors of signaling pathways involved in asthmatic immune responses, with target engagement demonstrated locally in the lung. These findings support the clinical development of AZD0449 and AZD4604 for the treatment of patients with asthma.

Transcriptome-Wide m6A Methylome and m6A-Modified Gene Analysis in Asthma

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is one of the most prevalent RNA modification forms and is an important posttranscriptional mechanism for regulating genes. In previous research, we found that m6A regulator–mediated RNA methylation modification was involved in asthma; however, the specific modified genes are not clear. In this study, we systematically evaluated the transcriptome-wide m6A methylome and m6A-modified genes in asthma. Here, we performed two high-throughput sequencing methods, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq), and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify key genes with m6A modification in asthma. Through difference analysis, we found that 416 methylation peaks were significantly upregulated and 152 methylation peaks were significantly downregulated, and it was mainly distributed in 3′ UTR. Furthermore, compared with the control group, there were 2,505 significantly upregulated genes and 4,715 significantly downregulated genes in the asthma group. Next, through a combined analysis of transcriptome and differential peaks, 14 differentially expressed genes related to RNA methylation modification were screened. Finally, through 87 health controls and 411 asthma cases from the U-BIOPRED (Unbiased Biomarkers for the Prediction of Respiratory Disease Outcomes) program, we verified three m6A-modified key genes (BCL11A, MATK, and CD300A) and found that they were mainly distributed in exons and enriched in 3' UTR. Our findings suggested that intervening in m6A-modified genes may provide a new idea for the treatment of asthma.

Screening of Bioactive Fraction of Radix Paeoniae Alba and Enhancing Anti-Allergic Asthma by Stir-Frying Through Regulating PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

Allergic asthma is a common respiratory inflammation disease. The crude Radix Paeoniae Alba (RPA) and its processed products have been used frequently as antipyretic and anti-inflammatory agents in traditional medicine. To evaluate the effect of honey and bran processing, different fractions of RPA were used for treating anti-allergic asthma in the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mice model, and then, the most effective fraction of RPA and stir-frying Radix Paeoniae Alba with honey and bran (FRPA) for treating anti-allergic asthma were compared mutually for pharmacological effects. The results showed that the treatment of the dichloromethane fraction of RPA significantly improved the pathological condition of lung tissues, decreased the number of eosinophils and other cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and the increased the expression of various inflammatory factors. Furthermore, the study discovered that the lung pathological conditions, compared with the high dose of dichloromethane RPA fraction, could be ameliorated by high dose of dichloromethane FRPA fraction treatment. Moreover, the expression of inflammatory factors and the phosphorylation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway could be diminished by FRPA. Finally, the contents of compounds with a significant difference in the FRPA dichloromethane fraction were paeoniflorin, ethyl gallate, pentagalloylglucose, galloylpaeoniflorin, and others by UPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis. These findings suggest that the dichloromethane fraction of FRPA has an enhancement effect on anti-allergic asthma and provide the experimental basis for exploring the processed mechanism of RPA.