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Bateman G, Guo-Parke H, Rodgers AM, Linden D, Bailey M, Weldon S, Kidney JC, Taggart CC. Airway Epithelium Senescence as a Driving Mechanism in COPD Pathogenesis. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2072. [PMID: 37509711 PMCID: PMC10377597 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11072072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a state of permanent cell cycle arrest triggered by various intrinsic and extrinsic stressors. Cellular senescence results in impaired tissue repair and remodeling, loss of physiological integrity, organ dysfunction, and changes in the secretome. The systemic accumulation of senescence cells has been observed in many age-related diseases. Likewise, cellular senescence has been implicated as a risk factor and driving mechanism in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis. Airway epithelium exhibits hallmark features of senescence in COPD including activation of the p53/p21WAF1/CIP1 and p16INK4A/RB pathways, leading to cell cycle arrest. Airway epithelial senescent cells secrete an array of inflammatory mediators, the so-called senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), leading to a persistent low-grade chronic inflammation in COPD. SASP further promotes senescence in an autocrine and paracrine manner, potentially contributing to the onset and progression of COPD. In addition, cellular senescence in COPD airway epithelium is associated with telomere dysfunction, DNA damage, and oxidative stress. This review discusses the potential mechanisms of airway epithelial cell senescence in COPD, the impact of cellular senescence on the development and severity of the disease, and highlights potential targets for modulating cellular senescence in airway epithelium as a potential therapeutic approach in COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Bateman
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7AE, UK
| | - Hong Guo-Parke
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7AE, UK
| | - Aoife M Rodgers
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7AE, UK
| | - Dermot Linden
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7AE, UK
| | - Melanie Bailey
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mater Hospital Belfast, Belfast BT14 6AB, UK
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7AE, UK
| | - Joseph C Kidney
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mater Hospital Belfast, Belfast BT14 6AB, UK
| | - Clifford C Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7AE, UK
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Creane S, Joyce M, MacLoughlin R, Weldon S, Dalton JP, Taggart CC. In vitro evaluation of the potential use of snake-derived peptides in the treatment of respiratory infections using inhalation therapy: A proof of concept study. Eur J Pharm Sci 2023; 183:106398. [PMID: 36740103 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2023.106398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Inhalation therapy using nebulisers is an attractive non-invasive route for drug delivery, particularly for the treatment of lung infections with anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial compounds. This study evaluated the suitability of three snake-derived peptides (termed Sn1b, SnE1 and SnE1-F), which we have recently shown have potent anti-inflammatory and bacteriostatic activities, for nebulisation using a vibrating mesh nebuliser (VMN). The effect of nebulisation on peptide concentration, stability and function were assessed, prior to progression to aerodynamic particle size distribution, and in vitro drug delivery in simulated adult spontaneous breathing and mechanical ventilated patient models. When nebulised, all three peptides exhibited similar functions to their non-nebulised counterparts and were found to be respirable during simulated mechanical ventilation. Based on the assessment of the droplet distributions of nebulised peptides using a Next Generation Impactor (NGI) demonstrated that if administered in vivo each peptide would likely be delivered to the lower airways. These data suggest that nebulisation using a VMN is a viable means of anti-microbial / anti-inflammatory peptide delivery targeting microbial respiratory infections, and possibly even systemic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannice Creane
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Mary Joyce
- Research & Development, Science & Emerging Technologies, Aerogen Limited, Galway Business Park, Galway H91 HE94, Ireland
| | - Ronan MacLoughlin
- Research & Development, Science & Emerging Technologies, Aerogen Limited, Galway Business Park, Galway H91 HE94, Ireland; School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, D02 YN77, Ireland; School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College, Dublin D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - John P Dalton
- Zoology Department, School of Natural Sciences, Centre for One Health, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.; School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Clifford C Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK..
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Osbourn M, Rodgers AM, Dubois AV, Small DM, Humphries F, Delagic N, Moynagh PN, Weldon S, Taggart CC, Ingram RJ. Secretory Leucoprotease Inhibitor (SLPI) Promotes Survival during Acute Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection by Suppression of Inflammation Rather Than Microbial Killing. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12121728. [PMID: 36551159 PMCID: PMC9776001 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Secretory leucoprotease inhibitor (SLPI) has multifaceted functions, including inhibition of protease activity, antimicrobial functions, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we show that SLPI plays a role in controlling pulmonary Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Mice lacking SLPI were highly susceptible to P. aeruginosa infection, however there was no difference in bacterial burden. Utilising a model of P. aeruginosa LPS-induced lung inflammation, human recombinant SLPI (hrSLPI) administered intraperitoneally suppressed the recruitment of inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and resulted in reduced BALF and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. This anti-inflammatory effect of hrSLPI was similarly demonstrated in a systemic inflammation model induced by intraperitoneal injection of LPS from various bacteria or lipoteichoic acid, highlighting the broad anti-inflammatory properties of hrSLPI. Moreover, in bone-marrow-derived macrophages, hrSLPI reduced LPS-induced phosphorylation of p-IkB-α, p-IKK-α/β, p-P38, demonstrating that the anti-inflammatory effect of hrSLPI was due to the inhibition of the NFκB and MAPK pathways. In conclusion, administration of hrSLPI attenuates excessive inflammatory responses and is therefore, a promising strategy to target inflammatory diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome or sepsis and could potentially be used to augment antibiotic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Osbourn
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Aoife M. Rodgers
- Department of Biology, The Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Alice V. Dubois
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Donna M. Small
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Fiachra Humphries
- Department of Biology, The Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Nezira Delagic
- Department of Biology, The Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Paul N. Moynagh
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
- Department of Biology, The Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Clifford C. Taggart
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Rebecca J. Ingram
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +4428-9097-2090; Fax: +4428-9097-2671
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Scott A, Weldon S, Taggart CC. The Serpin-tine Search for Factors Associated with COVID-19 Severity in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2022; 206:657-658. [PMID: 35612929 PMCID: PMC9799115 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202205-0956ed] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Scott
- Institute of Inflammation and AgeingUniversity of BirminghamBirmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental MedicineQueen’s University BelfastBelfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Clifford C. Taggart
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental MedicineQueen’s University BelfastBelfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
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McKelvey MC, Abladey AA, Small DM, Doherty DF, Williams R, Scott A, Spek CA, Borensztajn KS, Holsinger L, Booth R, O'Kane CM, McAuley DF, Taggart CC, Weldon S. Cathepsin S Contributes to Lung Inflammation in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2022; 205:769-782. [PMID: 35073247 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202107-1631oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Although the cysteine protease cathepsin S has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory lung diseases, its role has not been examined in the context of acute respiratory distress syndrome, a condition that still lacks specific and effective pharmacological treatments. Objectives: To characterize the status of cathepsin S in acute lung inflammation and examine the role of cathepsin S in disease pathogenesis. Methods: Human and mouse model BAL fluid samples were analyzed for the presence and activity of cathepsin S and its endogenous inhibitors. Recombinant cathepsin S was instilled directly into the lungs of mice. The effects of cathepsin S knockout and pharmacological inhibition were examined in two models of acute lung injury. Protease-activated receptor-1 antagonism was used to test a possible mechanism for cathepsin S-mediated inflammation. Measurements and Main Results: Pulmonary cathepsin S concentrations and activity were elevated in acute respiratory distress syndrome, a phenotype possibly exacerbated by the loss of the endogenous antiprotease cystatin SN. Direct cathepsin S instillation into the lungs induced key pathologies of acute respiratory distress syndrome, including neutrophilia and alveolar leakage. Conversely, in murine models of acute lung injury, genetic knockdown and prophylactic or therapeutic inhibition of cathepsin S reduced neutrophil recruitment and protein leakage. Cathepsin S may partly mediate its pathogenic effects via protease-activated receptor-1, because antagonism of this receptor abrogated cathepsin S-induced airway inflammation. Conclusions: Cathepsin S contributes to acute lung injury and may represent a novel therapeutic target for acute respiratory distress syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Richard Williams
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Scott
- Centre for Translational Inflammation Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
| | - C Arnold Spek
- Center of Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Keren S Borensztajn
- INSERM UMRS_933, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Hôpital Trousseau, Paris, France; and
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Guo-Parke H, Linden D, Mousnier A, Scott IC, Killick H, Borthwick LA, Fisher AJ, Weldon S, Taggart CC, Kidney JC. Altered Differentiation and Inflammation Profiles Contribute to Enhanced Innate Responses in Severe COPD Epithelium to Rhinovirus Infection. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:741989. [PMID: 35280870 PMCID: PMC8916560 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.741989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Respiratory viral infections are closely associated with COPD exacerbations, hospitalisations, and significant morbidity and mortality. The consequences of the persisting inflammation and differentiation status in virus associated severe disease is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate barrier function, cellular architecture, the inflammatory response in severe COPD bronchial epithelium to human rhinovirus (HRV) induced pathological changes and innate immune responses. Methods Well-differentiated primary bronchial epithelial cells (WD-PBECs) derived from severe COPD patients and age-matched healthy controls were cultured in the air-liquid interface (ALI) model. The differentiation phenotype, epithelial barrier integrity, pathological response and cytokine secreting profile of these cultures before and after HRV infection were investigated. Results WD-PBECs derived from severe COPD patients showed aberrant epithelium differentiation with a decreased proportion of ciliated cells but increased numbers of club cells and goblet cells compared with healthy controls. Tight junction integrity was compromised in both cultures following HRV infection, with heightened disruptions in COPD cultures. HRV induced increased epithelial cell sloughing, apoptosis and mucus hypersecretion in COPD cultures compared with healthy controls. A Th1/Th2 imbalance and a strong interferon and pro-inflammatory cytokine response was also observed in COPD cultures, characterized by increased levels of IFNγ, IFNβ, IP-10, IL-10 and decreased TSLP and IL-13 cytokine levels prior to HRV infection. Significantly enhanced basolateral secretion of eotaxin 3, IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF were also observed in both mock and HRV infected COPD cultures compared with corresponding healthy controls. In response to HRV infection, all cultures displayed elevated levels of IFNλ1 (IL-29), IP-10 and TNFα compared with mock infected cultures. Interestingly, HRV infection dramatically reduced IFNλ levels in COPD cultures compared with healthy subjects. Conclusion An altered differentiation phenotype and cytokine response as seen in severe COPD WD-PBECs may contribute to increased disease susceptibility and an enhanced inflammatory response to HRV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Guo-Parke
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Dermot Linden
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Aurelie Mousnier
- Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Ian C. Scott
- Translational Sciences and Experimental Medicine, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Killick
- Translational Sciences and Experimental Medicine, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Lee A. Borthwick
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J. Fisher
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Institute of Transplantation, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Clifford C. Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph C. Kidney
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mater Hospital, Belfast, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Joseph C. Kidney
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Guo-Parke H, Linden D, Weldon S, Kidney JC, Taggart CC. Deciphering Respiratory-Virus-Associated Interferon Signaling in COPD Airway Epithelium. Medicina (Kaunas) 2022; 58:121. [PMID: 35056429 PMCID: PMC8781535 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58010121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
COPD is a chronic lung disorder characterized by a progressive and irreversible airflow obstruction, and persistent pulmonary inflammation. It has become a global epidemic affecting 10% of the population, and is the third leading cause of death worldwide. Respiratory viruses are a primary cause of COPD exacerbations, often leading to secondary bacterial infections in the lower respiratory tract. COPD patients are more susceptible to viral infections and associated severe disease, leading to accelerated lung function deterioration, hospitalization, and an increased risk of mortality. The airway epithelium plays an essential role in maintaining immune homeostasis, and orchestrates the innate and adaptive responses of the lung against inhaled and pathogen insults. A healthy airway epithelium acts as the first line of host defense by maintaining barrier integrity and the mucociliary escalator, secreting an array of inflammatory mediators, and initiating an antiviral state through the interferon (IFN) response. The airway epithelium is a major site of viral infection, and the interaction between respiratory viruses and airway epithelial cells activates host defense mechanisms, resulting in rapid virus clearance. As such, the production of IFNs and the activation of IFN signaling cascades directly contributes to host defense against viral infections and subsequent innate and adaptive immunity. However, the COPD airway epithelium exhibits an altered antiviral response, leading to enhanced susceptibility to severe disease and impaired IFN signaling. Despite decades of research, there is no effective antiviral therapy for COPD patients. Herein, we review current insights into understanding the mechanisms of viral evasion and host IFN antiviral defense signaling impairment in COPD airway epithelium. Understanding how antiviral mechanisms operate in COPD exacerbations will facilitate the discovery of potential therapeutic interventions to reduce COPD hospitalization and disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Guo-Parke
- Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7AE, UK; (H.G.-P.); (D.L.); (S.W.)
| | - Dermot Linden
- Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7AE, UK; (H.G.-P.); (D.L.); (S.W.)
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7AE, UK; (H.G.-P.); (D.L.); (S.W.)
| | - Joseph C. Kidney
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mater Hospital Belfast, Belfast BT14 6AB, UK;
| | - Clifford C. Taggart
- Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7AE, UK; (H.G.-P.); (D.L.); (S.W.)
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Creane SE, Carlile SR, Downey D, Weldon S, Dalton JP, Taggart CC. The Impact of Lung Proteases on Snake-Derived Antimicrobial Peptides. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11081106. [PMID: 34439773 PMCID: PMC8394243 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory infections are a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality and are of significant concern for individuals with chronic inflammatory lung diseases. There is an urgent need for novel antimicrobials. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are naturally occurring innate immune response peptides with therapeutic potential. However, therapeutic development has been hindered by issues with stability and cytotoxicity. Availing of direct drug delivery to the affected site, for example the lung, can reduce unwanted systemic side effects and lower the required dose. As cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) lungs typically exhibit elevated protease levels, the aim of this study was to assess their impact on snake-derived AMPs. Peptide cleavage was determined using SDS-PAGE and antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of neutrophil elastase (NE)-incubated peptides were assessed using a radial diffusion assay (RDA) and an in vitro LPS-induced inflammation model, respectively. Although the snake-derived AMPs were found to be susceptible to cleavage by lung proteases including NE, several retained their function following NE-incubation. This facilitated the design of novel truncated derivatives that retained functionality following NE incubation. Snake-derived AMPs are tractable candidate treatments for use in environments that feature elevated NE levels, such as the CF airways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannice E. Creane
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (S.E.C.); (S.R.C.); (S.W.)
| | - Simon R. Carlile
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (S.E.C.); (S.R.C.); (S.W.)
| | - Damian Downey
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK;
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (S.E.C.); (S.R.C.); (S.W.)
| | - John P. Dalton
- Zoology Department, School of Natural Sciences, Centre for One Health, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Clifford C. Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (S.E.C.); (S.R.C.); (S.W.)
- Correspondence:
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McKelvey MC, Brown R, Ryan S, Mall MA, Weldon S, Taggart CC. Proteases, Mucus, and Mucosal Immunity in Chronic Lung Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5018. [PMID: 34065111 PMCID: PMC8125985 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22095018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated protease activity has long been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic lung diseases and especially in conditions that display mucus obstruction, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. However, our appreciation of the roles of proteases in various aspects of such diseases continues to grow. Patients with muco-obstructive lung disease experience progressive spirals of inflammation, mucostasis, airway infection and lung function decline. Some therapies exist for the treatment of these symptoms, but they are unable to halt disease progression and patients may benefit from novel adjunct therapies. In this review, we highlight how proteases act as multifunctional enzymes that are vital for normal airway homeostasis but, when their activity becomes immoderate, also directly contribute to airway dysfunction, and impair the processes that could resolve disease. We focus on how proteases regulate the state of mucus at the airway surface, impair mucociliary clearance and ultimately, promote mucostasis. We discuss how, in parallel, proteases are able to promote an inflammatory environment in the airways by mediating proinflammatory signalling, compromising host defence mechanisms and perpetuating their own proteolytic activity causing structural lung damage. Finally, we discuss some possible reasons for the clinical inefficacy of protease inhibitors to date and propose that, especially in a combination therapy approach, proteases represent attractive therapeutic targets for muco-obstructive lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C. McKelvey
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (M.C.M.); (R.B.); (S.R.); (S.W.)
| | - Ryan Brown
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (M.C.M.); (R.B.); (S.R.); (S.W.)
| | - Sinéad Ryan
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (M.C.M.); (R.B.); (S.R.); (S.W.)
| | - Marcus A. Mall
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany;
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), 10178 Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 35392 Gießen, Germany
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (M.C.M.); (R.B.); (S.R.); (S.W.)
| | - Clifford C. Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (M.C.M.); (R.B.); (S.R.); (S.W.)
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Brown R, Small DM, Doherty DF, Holsinger L, Booth R, Williams R, Ingram RJ, Elborn JS, Mall MA, Taggart CC, Weldon S. Therapeutic Inhibition of Cathepsin S Reduces Inflammation and Mucus Plugging in Adult βENaC-Tg Mice. Mediators Inflamm 2021; 2021:6682657. [PMID: 33828414 PMCID: PMC8004367 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6682657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elevated levels of the cysteine protease cathepsin S (CatS) are associated with chronic mucoobstructive lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We have previously demonstrated that prophylactic treatment with a CatS inhibitor from birth reduces inflammation, mucus plugging, and lung tissue damage in juvenile β-epithelial Na+ channel-overexpressing transgenic (βENaC-Tg) mice with chronic inflammatory mucoobstructive lung disease. In this study, we build upon this work to examine the effects of therapeutic intervention with a CatS inhibitor in adult βENaC-Tg mice with established disease. METHODS βENaC-Tg mice and wild-type (WT) littermates were treated with a CatS inhibitor from 4 to 6 weeks of age, and CatS-/- βENaC-Tg mice were analysed at 6 weeks of age. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid inflammatory cell counts were quantified, and lung tissue destruction and mucus obstruction were analysed histologically. RESULTS At 6 weeks of age, βENaC-Tg mice developed significant airway inflammation, lung tissue damage, and mucus plugging when compared to WT mice. CatS-/- βENaC-Tg mice and βENaC-Tg mice receiving inhibitor had significantly reduced airway mononuclear and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell counts as well as mucus plugging. However, in contrast to CatS-/- βENaC-Tg mice, therapeutic inhibition of CatS in βENaC-Tg mice had no effect on established emphysema-like lung tissue damage. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that while early CatS targeting may be required to prevent the onset and progression of lung tissue damage, therapeutic CatS targeting effectively inhibited airway inflammation and mucus obstruction. These results indicate the important role CatS may play in the pathogenesis and progression of mucoobstructive lung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Brown
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Donna M. Small
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Declan F. Doherty
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | | | | | - Richard Williams
- Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Rebecca J. Ingram
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - J. Stuart Elborn
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Marcus A. Mall
- Department of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Clifford C. Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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11
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Brown R, McKelvey MC, Ryan S, Creane S, Linden D, Kidney JC, McAuley DF, Taggart CC, Weldon S. The Impact of Aging in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Clinical and Mechanistic Overview. Front Med (Lausanne) 2020; 7:589553. [PMID: 33195353 PMCID: PMC7649269 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.589553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in the elderly population (≥65 years of age). Additionally, age is widely reported as a risk factor for the development of ARDS. However, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms behind the increased risk of developing, and increased severity of, ARDS in the elderly population are not fully understood. This is compounded by the significant heterogeneity observed in patients with ARDS. With an aging population worldwide, a better understanding of these mechanisms could facilitate the development of therapies to improve outcomes in this population. In this review, the current clinical evidence of age as a risk factor and prognostic indicator in ARDS and the potential underlying mechanisms that may contribute to these factors are outlined. In addition, research on age-dependent treatment options and biomarkers, as well as future prospects for targeting these underlying mechanisms, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Brown
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Michael C McKelvey
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Sinéad Ryan
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Shannice Creane
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Dermot Linden
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph C Kidney
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mater Hospital Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel F McAuley
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Clifford C Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
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12
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Ryan S, Shiels J, Taggart CC, Dalton JP, Weldon S. Fasciola hepatica-Derived Molecules as Regulators of the Host Immune Response. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2182. [PMID: 32983184 PMCID: PMC7492538 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Helminths (worms) are one of the most successful organisms in nature given their ability to infect millions of humans and animals worldwide. Their success can be attributed to their ability to modulate the host immune response for their own benefit by releasing excretory-secretory (ES) products. Accordingly, ES products have been lauded as a potential source of immunomodulators/biotherapeutics for an array of inflammatory diseases. However, there is a significant lack of knowledge regarding the specific interactions between these products and cells of the immune response. Many different compounds have been identified within the helminth "secretome," including antioxidants, proteases, mucin-like peptides, as well as helminth defense molecules (HDMs), each with unique influences on the host inflammatory response. HDMs are a conserved group of proteins initially discovered in the secretome of the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica. HDMs interact with cell membranes without cytotoxic effects and do not exert antimicrobial activity, suggesting that these peptides evolved specifically for immunomodulatory purposes. A peptide generated from the HDM sequence, termed FhHDM-1, has shown extensive anti-inflammatory abilities in clinically relevant models of diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, asthma, and acute lung injury, offering hope for the development of a new class of therapeutics. In this review, the current knowledge of host immunomodulation by a range of F. hepatica ES products, particularly FhHDM-1, will be discussed. Immune regulators, including HDMs, have been identified from other helminths and will also be outlined to broaden our understanding of the variety of effects these potent molecules exert on immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinéad Ryan
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Jenna Shiels
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Clifford C Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - John P Dalton
- Centre of One Health (COH), Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, United Kingdom
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
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13
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Brown R, Paulsen M, Schmidt S, Schatterny J, Frank A, Hirtz S, Delaney R, Doherty D, Hagner M, Taggart C, Weldon S, Mall MA. Lack of IL-1 Receptor Signaling Reduces Spontaneous Airway Eosinophilia in Juvenile Mice with Muco-Obstructive Lung Disease. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2020; 62:300-309. [PMID: 31499011 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2018-0359oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies demonstrated spontaneous type 2 airway inflammation with eosinophilia in juvenile Scnn1b (sodium channel, non-voltage-gated 1, β-subunit)-transgenic (Scnn1b-Tg) mice with muco-obstructive lung disease. IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) signaling has been implicated in allergen-driven airway disease; however, its role in eosinophilic inflammation in muco-obstructive lung disease remains unknown. In this study, we examined the role of IL-1R signaling in the development of airway eosinophilia and type 2 inflammation in juvenile Scnn1b-Tg mice. We determined effects of genetic deletion of Il1r1 (IL-1 receptor type I) on eosinophil counts, transcript levels of key type 2 cytokines, markers of eosinophil activation and apoptosis, and tissue morphology in lungs of Scnn1b-Tg mice at different time points during neonatal development. Furthermore, we measured endothelial surface expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), an integrin involved in eosinophil transendothelial migration, and determined effects of eosinophil depletion using an anti-IL-5 antibody on lung morphology. Lack of IL-1R reduced airway eosinophilia and structural lung damage, but it did not reduce concentrations of type 2 cytokines and associated eosinophil activation in Scnn1b-Tg mice. Structural lung damage in Scnn1b-Tg mice was also reduced by eosinophil depletion. Lack of IL-1R was associated with reduced expression of ICAM-1 on lung endothelial cells and reduced eosinophil counts in lungs from Scnn1b-Tg mice. We conclude that IL-1R signaling is implicated in airway eosinophilia independent of type 2 cytokines in juvenile Scnn1b-Tg mice. Our data suggest that IL-1R signaling may be relevant in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic airway inflammation in muco-obstructive lung diseases, which may be mediated in part by ICAM-1-dependent transmigration of eosinophils into the lungs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Brown
- Department of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Centre Heidelberg, German Center for Lung Research, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michelle Paulsen
- Department of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Centre Heidelberg, German Center for Lung Research, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simone Schmidt
- Department of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Centre Heidelberg, German Center for Lung Research, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jolanthe Schatterny
- Department of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Centre Heidelberg, German Center for Lung Research, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Angela Frank
- Department of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Centre Heidelberg, German Center for Lung Research, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Hirtz
- Department of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Centre Heidelberg, German Center for Lung Research, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rebecca Delaney
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Declan Doherty
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Matthias Hagner
- Department of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Centre Heidelberg, German Center for Lung Research, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cliff Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Marcus A Mall
- Department of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Centre Heidelberg, German Center for Lung Research, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Immunology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; and.,Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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14
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Guo-Parke H, Linden D, Weldon S, Kidney JC, Taggart CC. Mechanisms of Virus-Induced Airway Immunity Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis of COPD Disease, Progression, and Exacerbation. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1205. [PMID: 32655557 PMCID: PMC7325903 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the integrated form of chronic obstructive bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema, characterized by persistent small airway inflammation and progressive irreversible airflow limitation. COPD is characterized by acute pulmonary exacerbations and associated accelerated lung function decline, hospitalization, readmission and an increased risk of mortality, leading to huge social-economic burdens. Recent evidence suggests ~50% of COPD acute exacerbations are connected with a range of respiratory viral infections. Nevertheless, respiratory viral infections have been linked to the severity and frequency of exacerbations and virus-induced secondary bacterial infections often result in a synergistic decline of lung function and longer hospitalization. Here, we review current advances in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of COPD and the increased susceptibility to virus-induced exacerbations and associated immune dysfunction in patients with COPD. The multiple immune regulators and inflammatory signaling pathways known to be involved in host-virus responses are discussed. As respiratory viruses primarily target airway epithelial cells, virus-induced inflammatory responses in airway epithelium are of particular focus. Targeting virus-induced inflammatory pathways in airway epithelial cells such as Toll like receptors (TLRs), interferons, inflammasomes, or direct blockade of virus entry and replication may represent attractive future therapeutic targets with improved efficacy. Elucidation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of virus infections in COPD pathogenesis will undoubtedly facilitate the development of these potential novel therapies that may attenuate the relentless progression of this heterogeneous and complex disease and reduce morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Guo-Parke
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Dermot Linden
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph C Kidney
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Mater Hospital Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Clifford C Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
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15
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Murray B, Twigg M, Brockbank S, Lowry P, Fitzgerald P, Weldon S, Taggart C. ePS3.05 A neutrophilic inflammation-derived marker of disease. J Cyst Fibros 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/s1569-1993(20)30305-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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16
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McKelvey MC, Weldon S, McAuley DF, Mall MA, Taggart CC. Targeting Proteases in Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease. Paradigms, Progress, and Potential. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2020; 201:141-147. [PMID: 31626562 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201906-1190pp] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniel F McAuley
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Marcus A Mall
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Immunology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany; and.,German Center for Lung Research, Berlin, Germany
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Brown R, Nath S, Lora A, Samaha G, Elgamal Z, Kaiser R, Taggart C, Weldon S, Geraghty P. Cathepsin S: investigating an old player in lung disease pathogenesis, comorbidities, and potential therapeutics. Respir Res 2020; 21:111. [PMID: 32398133 PMCID: PMC7216426 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-020-01381-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated expression and activity of cathepsin S (CTSS), a lysosomal protease and a member of the cysteine cathepsin protease family, is linked to the pathogenesis of multiple diseases, including a number of conditions affecting the lungs. Extracellular CTSS has potent elastase activity and by processing cytokines and host defense proteins, it also plays a role in the regulation of inflammation. CTSS has also been linked to G-coupled protein receptor activation and possesses an important intracellular role in major histocompatibility complex class II antigen presentation. Modulated CTSS activity is also associated with pulmonary disease comorbidities, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. CTSS is expressed in a wide variety of immune cells and is biologically active at neutral pH. Herein, we review the significance of CTSS signaling in pulmonary diseases and associated comorbidities. We also discuss CTSS as a plausible therapeutic target and describe recent and current clinical trials examining CTSS inhibition as a means for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Brown
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Sridesh Nath
- Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Centre, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Alnardo Lora
- Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Centre, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Ghassan Samaha
- Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Centre, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Ziyad Elgamal
- Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Centre, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Ryan Kaiser
- Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Centre, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Clifford Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Patrick Geraghty
- Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Centre, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Centre, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
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Taggart CC, Weldon S, Mall MA. At the forefront of cystic fibrosis Basic Science research: 16th ECFS Basic Science Conference. J Cyst Fibros 2020; 19:169-170. [PMID: 32063486 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2020.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Clifford C Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Marcus A Mall
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany; German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Berlin, Germany
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19
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Doherty DF, Nath S, Poon J, Foronjy RF, Ohlmeyer M, Dabo AJ, Salathe M, Birrell M, Belvisi M, Baumlin N, Kim MD, Weldon S, Taggart C, Geraghty P. Protein Phosphatase 2A Reduces Cigarette Smoke-induced Cathepsin S and Loss of Lung Function. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2019; 200:51-62. [PMID: 30641028 PMCID: PMC6603057 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201808-1518oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: CTSS (cathepsin S) is a cysteine protease that is observed at higher concentrations in BAL fluid and plasma of subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objectives: To investigate whether CTSS is involved in the pathogenesis of cigarette smoke-induced COPD and determine whether targeting upstream signaling could prevent the disease. Methods: CTSS expression was investigated in animal and human tissue and cell models of COPD. Ctss-/- mice were exposed to long-term cigarette smoke and forced oscillation and expiratory measurements were recorded. Animals were administered chemical modulators of PP2A (protein phosphatase 2A) activity. Measurements and Main Results: Here we observed enhanced CTSS expression and activity in mouse lungs after exposure to cigarette smoke. Ctss-/- mice were resistant to cigarette smoke-induced inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, airspace enlargements, and loss of lung function. CTSS expression was negatively regulated by PP2A in human bronchial epithelial cells isolated from healthy nonsmokers and COPD donors and in monocyte-derived macrophages. Modulating PP2A expression or activity, with silencer siRNA or a chemical inhibitor or activator, during acute smoke exposure in mice altered inflammatory responses and CTSS expression and activity in the lung. Enhancement of PP2A activity prevented chronic smoke-induced COPD in mice. Conclusions: Our study indicates that the decrease in PP2A activity that occurs in COPD contributes to elevated CTSS expression in the lungs and results in impaired lung function. Enhancing PP2A activity represents a feasible therapeutic approach to reduce CTSS activity and counter smoke-induced lung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Declan F. Doherty
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Sridesh Nath
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Justin Poon
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Robert F. Foronjy
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Centre, Brooklyn, New York
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
- Atux Iskay LLC, Plainsboro, New Jersey
| | - Abdoulaye J. Dabo
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Centre, Brooklyn, New York
| | - Matthias Salathe
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Mark Birrell
- Respiratory Pharmacology Group, Airway Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; and
- Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Belvisi
- Respiratory Pharmacology Group, Airway Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; and
- Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nathalie Baumlin
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Michael D. Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Clifford Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Geraghty
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Centre, Brooklyn, New York
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20
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Brown R, Small D, Holsinger L, Booth R, Elborn J, Mall M, Taggart C, Weldon S. P218 Therapeutic inhibition of CatS reduces airway inflammation and mucus plugging but does not prevent the progression of lung tissue damage in adult βENaC-Tg mice. J Cyst Fibros 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/s1569-1993(19)30511-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Carlile SR, Shiels J, Kerrigan L, Delaney R, Megaw J, Gilmore BF, Weldon S, Dalton JP, Taggart CC. Sea snake cathelicidin (Hc-cath) exerts a protective effect in mouse models of lung inflammation and infection. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6071. [PMID: 30988402 PMCID: PMC6465284 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42537-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities of Hc-cath, a cathelicidin peptide derived from the venom of the sea snake, Hydrophis cyanocyntus, using in vivo models of inflammation and infection. Hc-cath function was evaluated in in vitro, in vivo in the wax moth, Galleria mellonella, and in mouse models of intraperitoneal and respiratory Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Hc-Cath downregulated LPS-induced pro-inflammatory responses in macrophages and significantly improved the survival of P. aeruginosa infected G. mellonella over a 5-day period. We also demonstrated, for the first time, that Hc-cath can modulate inflammation in a mouse model of LPS-induced lung inflammation by significantly reducing the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine and neutrophil chemoattractant, KC, resulting in reduced cellular infiltration into the lungs. Moreover, Hc-cath treatment significantly reduced the bacterial load and inflammation in mouse models of P. aeruginosa intraperitoneal and respiratory infection. The effect of Hc-cath in our studies highlights the potential to develop this peptide as a candidate for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon R Carlile
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Jenna Shiels
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Lauren Kerrigan
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Rebecca Delaney
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Julianne Megaw
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Brendan F Gilmore
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - John P Dalton
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Clifford C Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.
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22
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Small DM, Brown RR, Doherty DF, Abladey A, Zhou-Suckow Z, Delaney RJ, Kerrigan L, Dougan CM, Borensztajn KS, Holsinger L, Booth R, Scott CJ, López-Campos G, Elborn JS, Mall MA, Weldon S, Taggart CC. Targeting of cathepsin S reduces cystic fibrosis-like lung disease. Eur Respir J 2019; 53:13993003.01523-2018. [PMID: 30655278 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01523-2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Cathepsin S (CatS) is upregulated in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, its role in CF lung disease pathogenesis remains unclear.In this study, β-epithelial Na+ channel-overexpressing transgenic (βENaC-Tg) mice, a model of CF-like lung disease, were crossed with CatS null (CatS-/-) mice or treated with the CatS inhibitor VBY-999.Levels of active CatS were elevated in the lungs of βENaC-Tg mice compared with wild-type (WT) littermates. CatS-/-βENaC-Tg mice exhibited decreased pulmonary inflammation, mucus obstruction and structural lung damage compared with βENaC-Tg mice. Pharmacological inhibition of CatS resulted in a significant decrease in pulmonary inflammation, lung damage and mucus plugging in the lungs of βENaC-Tg mice. In addition, instillation of CatS into the lungs of WT mice resulted in inflammation, lung remodelling and upregulation of mucin expression. Inhibition of the CatS target, protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), in βENaC-Tg mice resulted in a reduction in airway inflammation and mucin expression, indicating a role for this receptor in CatS-induced lung pathology.Our data indicate an important role for CatS in the pathogenesis of CF-like lung disease mediated in part by PAR2 and highlight CatS as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna M Small
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.,These two authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Ryan R Brown
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.,These two authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Declan F Doherty
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Anthony Abladey
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Zhe Zhou-Suckow
- Dept of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rebecca J Delaney
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Lauren Kerrigan
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Caoifa M Dougan
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Keren S Borensztajn
- INSERM UMRS_933, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Hôpital Trousseau, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Christopher J Scott
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Guillermo López-Campos
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - J Stuart Elborn
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.,Respiratory Medicine, Imperial College and Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK
| | - Marcus A Mall
- Dept of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Dept of Pediatric Pulmonology and Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Clifford C Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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Dougan C, Weldon S, Taggart C, Small D. PO-314 Loss of host secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor reduces lung adenocarcinoma burden. ESMO Open 2018. [DOI: 10.1136/esmoopen-2018-eacr25.827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Bragonzi A, Horati H, Kerrigan L, Lorè NI, Scholte BJ, Weldon S. Inflammation and host-pathogen interaction: Cause and consequence in cystic fibrosis lung disease. J Cyst Fibros 2017; 17:S40-S45. [PMID: 29107600 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) lung disease is associated with dysregulation of host defence systems, which ultimately disrupts the balance between inflammation and resolution and leaves the host susceptible to repeated infection. However, the mechanisms underlying these defects are complex and continue to garner significant interest among the CF research community. This review explores emerging data on novel aspects of innate host defence with promising biomarker and therapeutic potential for CF lung disease. Improved understanding of inflammation and host defence against pathogens in patients and animal models during the progression of CF lung disease is pivotal for the discovery of new therapeutics that can limit and/or prevent damage from birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Bragonzi
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Hamed Horati
- Pediatric Pulmonology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lauren Kerrigan
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, BT97BL, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Ivan Lorè
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Bob J Scholte
- Pediatric Pulmonology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Cell Biology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Research (AiiR) Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, BT97BL, United Kingdom.
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Small DM, Doherty DF, Dougan CM, Weldon S, Taggart CC. The role of whey acidic protein four-disulfide-core proteins in respiratory health and disease. Biol Chem 2017; 398:425-440. [PMID: 27930359 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2016-0262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Members of the whey acidic protein (WAP) or WAP four-disulfide-core (WFDC) family of proteins are a relatively under-explored family of low molecular weight proteins. The two most prominent WFDC proteins, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and elafin (or the precursor, trappin-2), have been shown to possess multiple functions including anti-protease, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. It is therefore of no surprise that both SLPI and elafin/trappin-2 have been developed as potential therapeutics. Given the abundance of SLPI and elafin/trappin-2 in the human lung, most work in the area of WFDC research has focused on the role of WFDC proteins in protecting the lung from proteolytic attack. In this review, we will outline the current evidence regarding the expanding role of WFDC protein function with a focus on WFDC activity in lung disease as well as emerging data regarding the function of some of the more recently described WFDC proteins.
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Scott A, Glasgow A, Small D, Carlile S, McCrudden M, McLean D, Brown R, Doherty D, Lundy FT, Hamid UI, O'Kane CM, McAuley DF, Brodlie M, Tunney M, Elborn JS, Irwin CR, Timson DJ, Taggart CC, Weldon S. Characterisation of eppin function: expression and activity in the lung. Eur Respir J 2017; 50:50/1/1601937. [DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01937-2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Eppin is a serine protease inhibitor expressed in male reproductive tissues.The aim of this study was to investigate the localisation and regulation of eppin expression in myeloid and epithelial cell lines, and explore its potential role as a multifunctional host defence protein.Using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, eppin was detected in the lungs of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and cystic fibrosis lung disease. Expression of eppin in monocytic cells was unaffected by stimulation with Toll-like receptor agonists, cytokines and hormone receptor agonists. However, upregulated expression and secretion of eppin was observed following treatment of monocytes with epidermal growth factor. Incubation of recombinant eppin with monocytic cells resulted in significant inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced chemokine production. Furthermore, eppin inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced NF-κB activation by a mechanism which involved accumulation of phosphorylated IκBα. In anin vivomodel of lung inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide, eppin administration resulted in decreased recruitment of neutrophils to the lung with a concomitant reduction in the levels of the neutrophil chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein-2.Overall, these results suggest a role for eppin outside of the reproductive tract and that eppin may have a role in the innate immune response in the lung.
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Brown RR, Small DM, Abladey AA, Holsinger LJ, Booth R, Scott CJ, Elborn JS, Mall MA, Weldon S, Taggart CC. Investigating the role of cathepsin S in the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis-like lung disease. Pneumologie 2016. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1584637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Payne J, Weldon S, Taggart C, Ingram R, Elborn J, Tunney M. WS01.4 Antimicrobial activity of innate antimicrobial peptides against clinical cystic fibrosis respiratory isolates. J Cyst Fibros 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/s1569-1993(16)30063-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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29
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Camper N, Glasgow AMA, Osbourn M, Quinn DJ, Small DM, McLean DT, Lundy FT, Elborn JS, McNally P, Ingram RJ, Weldon S, Taggart CC. A secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor variant with improved activity against lung infection. Mucosal Immunol 2016; 9:669-76. [PMID: 26376365 DOI: 10.1038/mi.2015.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is an important respiratory tract host defense protein, which is proteolytically inactivated by excessive neutrophil elastase (NE) during chronic Pseudomonas infection in the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung. We generated two putative NE-resistant variants of SLPI by site-directed mutagenesis, SLPI-A16G and SLPI-S15G-A16G, with a view to improving SLPI's proteolytic stability. Both variants showed enhanced resistance to degradation in the presence of excess NE as well as CF patient sputum compared with SLPI-wild type (SLPI-WT). The ability of both variants to bind bacterial lipopolysaccharides and interact with nuclear factor-κB DNA binding sites was also preserved. Finally, we demonstrate increased anti-inflammatory activity of the SLPI-A16G protein compared with SLPI-WT in a murine model of pulmonary Pseudomonas infection. This study demonstrates the increased stability of these SLPI variants compared with SLPI-WT and their therapeutic potential as a putative anti-inflammatory treatment for CF lung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Camper
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - A M A Glasgow
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - M Osbourn
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - D J Quinn
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - D M Small
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - D T McLean
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - F T Lundy
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - J S Elborn
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - P McNally
- Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Ireland, UK
| | - R J Ingram
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - S Weldon
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - C C Taggart
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
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Kerrigan L, Taggart C, Weldon S. 29 Airway epithelial cell IP-10 production is regulated by miR-31 via the transcription factor IRF-1. J Cyst Fibros 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/s1569-1993(15)30206-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Glasgow AMA, Small DM, Scott A, McLean DT, Camper N, Hamid U, Hegarty S, Parekh D, O'Kane C, Lundy FT, McNally P, Elborn JS, McAuley DF, Weldon S, Taggart CC. A role for whey acidic protein four-disulfide-core 12 (WFDC12) in the regulation of the inflammatory response in the lung. Thorax 2015; 70:426-32. [PMID: 25770093 DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-206488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2014] [Accepted: 02/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor and elafin are members of the whey acidic protein (WAP), or WAP four disulfide-core (WFDC), family of proteins and have multiple contributions to innate defence including inhibition of neutrophil serine proteases and inhibition of the inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This study aimed to explore potential activities of WFDC12, a previously uncharacterised WFDC protein expressed in the lung. METHODS Recombinant expression and purification of WFDC12 were optimised in Escherichia coli. Antiprotease, antibacterial and immunomodulatory activities of recombinant WFDC12 were evaluated and levels of endogenous WFDC12 protein were characterised by immunostaining and ELISA. RESULTS Recombinant WFDC12 inhibited cathepsin G, but not elastase or proteinase-3 activity. Monocytic cells pretreated with recombinant WFDC12 before LPS stimulation produced significantly lower levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 compared with cells stimulated with LPS alone. Recombinant WFDC12 became conjugated to fibronectin in a transglutaminase-mediated reaction and retained antiprotease activity. In vivo WFDC12 expression was confirmed by immunostaining of human lung tissue sections. WFDC12 levels in human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from healthy and lung-injured patients were quantitatively compared, showing WFDC12 to be elevated in both patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and healthy subjects treated with LPS, relative to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS Together, these results suggest a role for this lesser known WFDC protein in the regulation of lung inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlene M A Glasgow
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Donna M Small
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Aaron Scott
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Denise T McLean
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Nicolas Camper
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Umar Hamid
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Shauna Hegarty
- Department of Pathology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK
| | - Dhruv Parekh
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Cecilia O'Kane
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Fionnuala T Lundy
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Paul McNally
- Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - J Stuart Elborn
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Danny F McAuley
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Clifford C Taggart
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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Weldon S, McNally P, McAuley DF, Oglesby IK, Wohlford-Lenane CL, Bartlett JA, Scott CJ, McElvaney NG, Greene CM, McCray PB, Taggart CC. miR-31 dysregulation in cystic fibrosis airways contributes to increased pulmonary cathepsin S production. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2014; 190:165-74. [PMID: 24940638 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201311-1986oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Cathepsin S (CTSS) activity is increased in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). This activity contributes to lung inflammation via degradation of antimicrobial proteins, such as lactoferrin and members of the β-defensin family. OBJECTIVES In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that airway epithelial cells are a source of CTSS, and mechanisms underlying CTSS expression in the CF lung. METHODS Protease activity was determined using fluorogenic activity assays. Protein and mRNA expression were analyzed by ELISA, Western blotting, and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS In contrast to neutrophil elastase, CTSS activity was detectable in 100% of CF BAL fluid samples from patients without Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. In this study, we identified epithelial cells as a source of pulmonary CTSS activity with the demonstration that CF airway epithelial cells express and secrete significantly more CTSS than non-CF control cells in the absence of proinflammatory stimulation. Furthermore, levels of the transcription factor IRF-1 correlated with increased levels of its target gene CTSS. We discovered that miR-31, which is decreased in the CF airways, regulates IRF-1 in CF epithelial cells. Treating CF bronchial epithelial cells with a miR-31 mimic decreased IRF-1 protein levels with concomitant knockdown of CTSS expression and secretion. CONCLUSIONS The miR-31/IRF-1/CTSS pathway may play a functional role in the pathogenesis of CF lung disease and may open up new avenues for exploration in the search for an effective therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinéad Weldon
- 1 Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, and
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Small DM, Zani ML, Quinn DJ, Dallet-Choisy S, Glasgow AMA, O'Kane C, McAuley DF, McNally P, Weldon S, Moreau T, Taggart CC. A functional variant of elafin with improved anti-inflammatory activity for pulmonary inflammation. Mol Ther 2014; 23:24-31. [PMID: 25189740 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2014.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Elafin is a serine protease inhibitor produced by epithelial and immune cells with anti-inflammatory properties. Research has shown that dysregulated protease activity may elicit proteolytic cleavage of elafin, thereby impairing the innate immune function of the protein. The aim of this study was to generate variants of elafin (GG- and QQ-elafin) that exhibit increased protease resistance while retaining the biological properties of wild-type (WT) elafin. Similar to WT-elafin, GG- and QQ-elafin variants retained antiprotease activity and susceptibility to transglutaminase-mediated fibronectin cross-linking. However, in contrast to WT-elafin, GG- and QQ-elafin displayed significantly enhanced resistance to degradation when incubated with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with cystic fibrosis. Intriguingly, both variants, particularly GG-elafin, demonstrated improved lipopolysaccharide (LPS) neutralization properties in vitro. In addition, GG-elafin showed improved anti-inflammatory activity in a mouse model of LPS-induced acute lung inflammation. Inflammatory cell infiltration into the lung was reduced in lungs of mice treated with GG-elafin, predominantly neutrophilic infiltration. A reduction in MCP-1 levels in GG-elafin treated mice compared to the LPS alone treatment group was also demonstrated. GG-elafin showed increased functionality when compared to WT-elafin and may be of future therapeutic relevance in the treatment of lung diseases characterized by a protease burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna M Small
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | | | - Derek J Quinn
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | | | - Arlene M A Glasgow
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Cecilia O'Kane
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Danny F McAuley
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Paul McNally
- 1] Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin, Ireland [2] National Children's Research Centre, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Thierry Moreau
- CEPR, INSERM U1100/EA6305, University of Tours, Tours, France
| | - Clifford C Taggart
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
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Small D, Zani M, Quinn D, Weldon S, McAuley D, McNally P, Moreau T, Taggart C. S99 A Functional Variant of Elafin with Improved Anti-Inflammatory Activity. Thorax 2013. [DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2013-204457.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Glasgow A, Weldon S, Scott A, McLean D, Camper N, Lundy F, McNally P, Elborn J, Taggart C. 163 A role for the WFDC protein, WAP2, in the regulation of inflammatory response in the lung. J Cyst Fibros 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/s1569-1993(13)60305-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Kerrin A, Weldon S, Chung AHK, Craig T, Simpson AJ, O'Kane CM, McAuley DF, Taggart CC. Proteolytic cleavage of elafin by 20S proteasome may contribute to inflammation in acute lung injury. Thorax 2012; 68:315-21. [PMID: 23242946 DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2012-202536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE We hypothesise that elafin levels in acute lung injury (ALI) decrease over time due, in part, to proteolytic degradation as observed in other lung diseases. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to characterise temporal changes in elafin concentration in patients with ALI and to evaluate whether a decrease in elafin levels is due to elevated protease activity. METHODS Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained from patients with ALI within 48 h of onset of ALI (day 0), at day 3 and at day 7. Elafin levels were quantified by ELISA. Elafin susceptibility to proteolytic cleavage by ALI BALF was assessed by Western blot and by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Elafin levels were found to be significantly increased at the onset of ALI compared with healthy volunteers and fell significantly by day 7 compared with day 0. In contrast, levels of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor did not decrease over time. This decrease in elafin was due to cleavage by the 20S proteasome which was significantly increased in ALI BALF. Incubation of ALI BALF with the proteasome inhibitor epoxomicin confirmed that 20S proteasome protease activity was responsible for proteolytic cleavage of elafin, resulting in diminished anti-elastase activity. In addition, free neutrophil elastase activity significantly increased in ALI BALF from day 0 to day 7. CONCLUSIONS Elafin concentrations fall within the pulmonary compartment over the course of ALI as a result of proteolytic degradation. This loss of elafin may predispose people, in part, to excessive inflammation in ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoife Kerrin
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
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Kerrin A, Weldon S, Chang A, Craig T, Simpson AJ, O’Kane C, McAuley DF, Taggart C. S76 Proteolytic Cleavage of Elafin by 20S Proteasome May Contribute to Inflammation in Acute Lung Injury. Thorax 2012. [DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2012-202678.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Weldon S, McNally P, McAuley D, Scott C, Mall M, Randell S, Wohlford-Lenane C, Bartlett J, McCray P, Taggart C. WS9.5 CF epithelial cells are a source of pulmonary cathepsin S via increased IRF-1. J Cyst Fibros 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/s1569-1993(12)60064-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Weldon S, Chen Q, Wohlford-Lenane C, Bartlett J, Elborn J, McCray P, Taggart C. 150 CF epithelial cells are primed for apoptosis as a result of increased Fas. J Cyst Fibros 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/s1569-1993(12)60320-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Scott A, Weldon S, Buchanan PJ, Schock B, Ernst RK, McAuley DF, Tunney MM, Irwin CR, Elborn JS, Taggart CC. Evaluation of the ability of LL-37 to neutralise LPS in vitro and ex vivo. PLoS One 2011; 6:e26525. [PMID: 22028895 PMCID: PMC3196584 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2011] [Accepted: 09/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human cathelicidin LL-37 is a cationic antimicrobial peptide (AMP) which possesses a variety of activities including the ability to neutralise endotoxin. In this study, we investigated the role of LPS neutralisation in mediating LL-37's ability to inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS signalling in human monocytic cells. Methodology/Principal Findings Pre-treatment of monocytes with LL-37 significantly inhibited LPS-induced IL-8 production and the signalling pathway of associated transcription factors such as NF-κB. However, upon removal of LL-37 from the media prior to LPS stimulation, these inhibitory effects were abolished. These findings suggest that the ability of LL-37 to inhibit LPS signalling is largely dependent on extracellular LPS neutralisation. In addition, LL-37 potently inhibited cytokine production induced by LPS extracted from P. aeruginosa isolated from the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. In the CF lung, polyanionic molecules such as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and DNA bind LL-37 and impact negatively on its antibacterial activity. In order to determine whether such interactions interfere with the LPS neutralising ability of LL-37, the status of LL-37 and its ability to bind LPS in CF sputum were investigated. Overall our findings suggest that in the CF lung, the ability of LL-37 to bind LPS and inhibit LPS-induced IL-8 production is attenuated as a result of binding to DNA and GAGs. However, LL-37 levels and its concomitant LPS-binding activity can be increased with a combination of DNase and GAG lyase (heparinase II) treatment. Conclusions/Significance Overall, these findings suggest that a deficiency in available LL-37 in the CF lung may contribute to greater LPS-induced inflammation during CF lung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Scott
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Sinéad Weldon
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
- * E-mail:
| | - Paul J. Buchanan
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Bettina Schock
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Robert K. Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Danny F. McAuley
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Michael M. Tunney
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Chris R. Irwin
- Centre for Dental Education, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - J. Stuart Elborn
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Clifford C. Taggart
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
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Chen Q, Weldon S, Quinn D, Elborn J, Taggart C. 173 Upregulated caspase activity in cystic fibrosis respiratory epithelium – a link to increased apoptosis? J Cyst Fibros 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/s1569-1993(11)60189-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Guyot N, Bergsson G, Butler MW, Greene CM, Weldon S, Kessler E, Levine RL, O'Neill SJ, Taggart CC, McElvaney NG. Functional study of elafin cleaved by Pseudomonas aeruginosa metalloproteinases. Biol Chem 2010; 391:705-16. [PMID: 20370321 DOI: 10.1515/bc.2010.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Elafin is a 6-kDa innate immune protein present at several epithelial surfaces including the pulmonary epithelium. It is a canonical protease inhibitor of two neutrophil serine proteases [neutrophil elastase (NE) and proteinase 3] with the capacity to covalently bind extracellular matrix proteins by transglutamination. In addition to these properties, elafin also possesses antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa proteases on elafin function. We found that P. aeruginosa PAO1-conditioned medium and two purified Pseudomonas metalloproteases, pseudolysin (elastase) and aeruginolysin (alkaline protease), are able to cleave recombinant elafin. Pseudolysin was shown to inactivate the anti-NE activity of elafin by cleaving its protease-binding loop. Interestingly, antibacterial properties of elafin against PAO1 were found to be unaffected after pseudolysin treatment. In contrast to pseudolysin, aeruginolysin failed to inactivate the inhibitory properties of elafin against NE. Aeruginolysin cleaves elafin at the amino-terminal Lys6-Gly7 peptide bond, resulting in a decreased ability to covalently bind purified fibronectin following transglutaminase activity. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that elafin is susceptible to proteolytic cleavage at alternative sites by P. aeruginosa metalloproteinases, which can affect different biological functions of elafin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Guyot
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Research Division, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
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Scott A, Weldon S, Tunney M, Elborn J, Taggart C. Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide signalling by LL-37 and repercussions for LL-37 function in the Pseudomonas-infected cystic fibrosis lung. J Cyst Fibros 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/s1569-1993(10)60184-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Quinn DJ, Weldon S, Taggart CC. Antiproteases as therapeutics to target inflammation in cystic fibrosis. Open Respir Med J 2010; 4:20-31. [PMID: 20448835 PMCID: PMC2864511 DOI: 10.2174/1874306401004020020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2009] [Revised: 10/29/2009] [Accepted: 10/30/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common fatal inherited disease of Caucasians, affecting about 1 in 3000 births. Patients with CF have a recessive mutation in the gene encoding the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR is expressed in the epithelium of many organs throughout the exocrine system, however, inflammation and damage of the airways as a result of persistent progressive endobronchial infection is a central feature of CF. The inflammatory response to infection brings about a sustained recruitment of neutrophils to the site of infection. These neutrophils release various pro-inflammatory compounds including proteases, which when expressed at aberrant levels can overcome the endogenous antiprotease defence mechanisms of the lung. Unregulated, these proteases can exacerbate inflammation and result in the degradation of structural proteins and tissue damage leading to bronchiectasis and loss of respiratory function. Other host-derived and bacterial proteases may also contribute to the inflammation and lung destruction observed in the CF lung. Antiprotease strategies to dampen the excessive inflammatory response and concomitant damage to the airways remains an attractive therapeutic option for CF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Clifford C Taggart
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, Whitla Medical Building, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
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Weldon S, McNally P, McElvaney NG, Elborn JS, McAuley DF, Wartelle J, Belaaouaj A, Levine RL, Taggart CC. Decreased levels of secretory leucoprotease inhibitor in the Pseudomonas-infected cystic fibrosis lung are due to neutrophil elastase degradation. J Immunol 2010; 183:8148-56. [PMID: 20007580 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.0901716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Secretory leucoprotease inhibitor (SLPI) is a neutrophil serine protease inhibitor constitutively expressed at many mucosal surfaces, including that of the lung. Originally identified as a serine protease inhibitor, it is now evident that SLPI also has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory functions, and therefore plays an important role in host defense. Previous work has shown that some host defense proteins such as SLPI and elafin are susceptible to proteolytic degradation. Consequently, we investigated the status of SLPI in the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung. A major factor that contributes to the high mortality rate among CF patients is Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. In this study, we report that P. aeruginosa-positive CF bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, which contains lower SLPI levels and higher neutrophil elastase (NE) activity compared with P. aeruginosa-negative samples, was particularly effective at cleaving recombinant human SLPI. Additionally, we found that only NE inhibitors were able to prevent SLPI cleavage, thereby implicating NE in this process. NE in excess was found to cleave recombinant SLPI at two novel sites in the NH(2)-terminal region and abrogate its ability to bind LPS and NF-kappaB consensus binding sites but not its ability to inhibit activity of the serine protease cathepsin G. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that SLPI is cleaved and inactivated by NE present in P. aeruginosa-positive CF lung secretions and that P. aeruginosa infection contributes to inactivation of the host defense screen in the CF lung.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinéad Weldon
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
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Irvin C, Wheaton D, Weldon S, Ma M. 338: Emergent Operative Trends in Major Adult Trauma Patients. Ann Emerg Med 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2007.06.399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Abstract
Chronic lung disease is one of the most common causes of death and disability worldwide. This group of diseases is characterized by a protease burden, an infective process and a dominant pro-inflammatory profile. While SLPI (secretory leucoprotease inhibitor) was initially identified as a serine protease inhibitor, it has since been shown that SLPI possesses other properties distinct from those associated with its antiprotease capabilities that play an important role in protecting the host from infection and injury. In the course of this review, we will highlight the findings from a range of studies that illustrate the multiple functions of SLPI and its role in the resolution of the immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Weldon
- Respiratory Research Division, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
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Weldon S, Mitchell S, Kelleher D, Gibney MJ, Roche HM. Conjugated linoleic acid and atherosclerosis: no effect on molecular markers of cholesterol homeostasis in THP-1 macrophages. Atherosclerosis 2004; 174:261-73. [PMID: 15136056 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2004.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2003] [Revised: 01/19/2004] [Accepted: 02/04/2004] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Macrophage cholesterol homeostasis is a key process involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) regulate the transcription of the genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis and thus represent an important therapeutic target in terms of reducing atherosclerosis. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a potent anti-atherogenic dietary fatty acid in animal models of atherosclerosis and is capable of activating PPARs in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, this study examined whether the anti-atherogenic effects of CLA in vivo could be ascribed to altered cholesterol homeostasis in macrophages and macrophage derived foam cells. Of several genes that regulate cholesterol homeostasis investigated, CLA had most effect on the class B scavenger receptor CD36. The cis-9,trans-11 CLA (c9,t11-CLA) and trans-10,cis-12 CLA (t10,c12-CLA) isomers augmented CD36 mRNA expression (P<0.001). Confocal laser microscopy characterised the three-dimensional expression patterns of CD36 in THP-1 macrophages. Linoleic acid, CLA and the PPARgamma ligand rosiglitazone increased discrete cell surface CD36 localisation, with a heterogeneous punctate pattern of expression. In agreement with the observed increases in CD36 mRNA and cell surface expression, intracellular cholesterol concentrations were greater in macrophages exposed to linoleic acid and CLA. Further analysis of cholesterol metabolism showed that CLA had no effect on THP-1 derived foam cell cholesterol efflux to apo AI. Thus, altered cholesterol homeostasis in the macrophage may not explain the anti-atherogenic effects of CLA observed in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinéad Weldon
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Unit of Nutrition, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James's Hospital, James's Street, Dublin 8, Ireland
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Panzenbeck MJ, Harrison PC, Madwed JB, McFarland ML, Winquist RJ, Frei P, Weldon S, Desai SN. Sodium depletion in conscious cynomolgus monkeys attenuates baroreflex sensitivity independently of prostaglandins. Am J Physiol 1994; 266:H2430-5. [PMID: 8024004 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.1994.266.6.h2430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that baroreflex attenuation during sodium depletion is due to increased prostaglandin (PG) levels. We studied baroreflex sensitivity before and after PG synthesis inhibition in conscious cynomolgus monkeys. Arterial pressure and pulse interval (PI) were measured during intravenous infusions of phenylephrine (1-20 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, n = 6) and nitroprusside (1-10 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, n = 7). Infusions were repeated 30 min after indomethacin (Indo, 6 mg/kg iv). The slope (in ms/mmHg) of the mean arterial blood pressure-PI plot was used as an index of baroreflex sensitivity. Plasma renin activity (PRA) was elevated (47.9 +/- 9.7 vs. 8.8 +/- 3.3 ng angiotensin I.ml-1.h-1) after sodium depletion (P < 0.05). Baroreflex sensitivity to hypotension and hypertension was significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated by sodium depletion (3.69 +/- 0.9 vs. 0.9 +/- 0.1 ms/mmHg and 7.38 +/- 0.6 vs. 5.04 +/- 0.9 ms/mmHg, respectively). Indo decreased PRA to 28.6 +/- 5.7 ng angiotensin I.ml-1.h-1 (P < 0.05) in sodium-depleted monkeys and decreased heart rate -21 +/- 3.7 from a baseline of 166 +/- 9.40 beats/min in normal monkeys and -22 +/- 2.9 from a baseline of 191 +/- 7.9 beats/min in low-sodium monkeys (P < 0.05). Indo did not significantly change baroreflex sensitivity in either group. Thus the baroreflex was attenuated in conscious nonhuman primates during sodium depletion; acute PG synthesis blockade did not improve baroreflex sensitivity. Indo decreased heart rate without changing arterial pressure; suggesting that PGs caused a downward resetting of the pressure-heart rate relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Panzenbeck
- Pharmacology Department, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877-0368
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Einarsdóttir O, Choc MG, Weldon S, Caughey WS. The site and mechanism of dioxygen reduction in bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase. J Biol Chem 1988; 263:13641-54. [PMID: 2843526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The site and mechanism of dioxygen reduction in cytochrome c oxidase from bovine heart muscle have been investigated. The rate of cytochrome c2+ oxidation by O2 is shown to be affected by several factors: 1) pH, with optima at 5.65 and 6.0, 2) temperature between 0 and 29 degrees C, with E alpha = 13 kcal mol-1, 3) D2O exchange, with a reduction in rate of 50% or more at the pH optima, and 4) the addition of ethylene glycol or glycerol, which significantly lowers the rate. The extremely narrow (delta vCO approximately 4 cm-1) infrared stretch bands at approximately 1964 and approximately 1959 cm-1 for liganded CO are only slightly affected by factors 1-4 or by changes in the oxidation state of metals other than the heme alpha 3 iron. These results indicate a stable, unusually immobile O2 reduction site well-isolated from the external medium, a characteristic expected to be important for oxidase function. Precise stereochemical positioning of hydrogen donors adjacent to O2 liganded to heme alpha 3 iron can be expected in order to achieve the optimization of the time/distance relationships required for enzyme catalysis. These findings support a novel mechanism of O2 reduction via a hydroperoxide intermediate within a reaction pocket that experiences little change in conformation during the hydrogen and electron transfer steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Einarsdóttir
- Department of Biochemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523
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