Bifunctional Lipocalin Ameliorates Murine Immune Complex-induced Acute Lung Injury

Molecules that simultaneously inhibit independent or co-dependent proinflammatory pathways may have advantages over conventional monotherapeutics. OmCI is a bifunctional protein derived from blood-feeding ticks that specifically prevents complement (C)-mediated C5 activation and also sequesters leukotriene B4 (LTB₄) within an internal binding pocket. Here, we examined the effect of LTB₄ binding on OmCI structure and function and investigated the relative importance of C-mediated C5 activation and LTB₄ in a mouse model of immune complex-induced acute lung injury (IC-ALI). We describe two crystal structures of bacterially expressed OmCI: one binding a C16 fatty acid and the other binding LTB₄ (C20). We show that the C5 and LTB₄ binding activities of the molecule are independent of each other and that OmCI is a potent inhibitor of experimental IC-ALI, equally dependent on both C5 inhibition and LTB₄ binding for full activity. The data highlight the importance of LTB₄ in IC-ALI and activation of C5 by the complement pathway C5 convertase rather than by non-C proteases. The findings suggest that dual inhibition of C5 and LTB₄ may be useful for treatment of human immune complex-dependent diseases.     

Dexamethasone Ameliorates H2S-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Alleviating Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and -9 Expression

Acute lung injury (ALI) is one of the fatal outcomes after exposure to high levels of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), and the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) especially MMP-2 and MMP-9 are believed to be involved in the development of ALI by degrading the extracellular matrix (ECM) of blood-air barrier. However, the roles of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in H₂S-induced ALI and the mechanisms of dexamethasone (DXM) in treating ALI in clinical practice are still largely unknown. The present work was aimed to investigate the roles of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in H₂S-induced ALI and the protective effects of DXM. In our study, SD rats were exposed to H₂S to establish the ALI model and in parallel, A549 cells were incubated with NaHS (a H₂S donor) to establish cell model. The lung HE staining, immunohistochemisty, electron microscope assay and wet/dry ratio were used to identify the ALI induced by H₂S, then the MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in both rats and A549 cells were detected. Our results revealed that MMP-2 and MMP-9 were obviously increased in both mRNA and protein level after H₂S exposure, and they could be inhibited by MMP inhibitor doxycycline (DOX) in rat model. Moreover, DXM significantly ameliorated the symptoms of H₂S-induced ALI including alveolar edema, infiltration of inflammatory cells and the protein leakage in BAFL via up-regulating glucocorticoid receptor(GR) to mediate the suppression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Furthermore, the protective effects of DXM in vivo and vitro study could be partially blocked by co-treated with GR antagonist mifepristone (MIF). Our results, taken together, demonstrated that MMP-2 and MMP-9 were involved in the development of H₂S-induced ALI and DXM exerted protective effects by alleviating the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Therefore, MMP-2 and MMP-9 might represent novel pharmacological targets for the treatment of H₂S and other hazard gases induced ALI.     

TLR4信号通路介导病毒性急性肺损伤与ARDS的研究进展

Toll样受体(Toll-like receptors,TLR)是参与非特异性免疫的Ⅰ型跨膜蛋白分子,可识别病原相关分子模式(Pathogen-associated molecular patterns,PAMP)并在病原体侵入体内的早期阶段激活机体的免疫应答,在响应宿主细胞对微生物病原体的识别中起重要作用,是机体抵抗感染疾病的重要屏障.以流感病毒和冠状病毒为代表的呼吸道病毒感染在临床具有极高的发病率和死亡率.此类病毒感染细胞后可通过模式识别受体和病原体相关分子模式相互作用激活宿主的先天免疫系统,诱发宿主产生过激的炎症反应从而引发"细胞因子风暴",最终导致急性肺损伤与急性呼吸窘迫综合症而致人死亡.因此,本文就Toll样受体家族中的Toll样受体4介导的信号通路为对象,就其介导的信号通路在流感病毒与冠状病毒复制及其在导致病毒性急性肺损伤与ARDS形成中的作用及靶向抑制该通路治疗病毒性肺炎的研究进展作一综述,以供同行参考.     

NDRG2在大鼠肺缺血再灌注损伤中的表达

目的:通过建立大鼠肺缺血再灌注损伤(Lung ischemia-reperfusion injury,LIRI)模型,观察肺缺血再灌注损伤后,肺组织中N-myc下游调节基因2(N-myc downstream regulated gene,NDRG2)表达水平的变化.方法:将70只健康成年雄性SD大鼠随机分成对照组(C)、缺血组(I)、缺血再灌注组(I/R)(后两组各含3个亚组),每组10只.麻醉固定大鼠,颈部切口行气管插管.右侧开胸,肺缺血组依次分别选择游离夹闭右肺门(即右主支气管,右肺动、静脉)缺血30 min、60 min、120 min后,麻醉处死大鼠获取肺组织.肺缺血再灌注组同样选择游离夹闭右肺门,于夹闭右肺门60 min后松开,分别取再灌注30 min、60 min、120m in后麻醉处死大鼠获取肺组织样本.采用免疫组化对肺组织NDRG2进行蛋白定位检测、RT-PCR对肺组织NDRG2 mRNA含量进行检测、Western-blot对肺组织NDRG2蛋白含量进行检测.结果:肺缺血组与对照组比较,肺组织NDRG2的表达无明显变化(P＞0.05);肺缺血再灌注组与对照组比较,NDRG2蛋白含量和mRNA表达量逐渐下降,在60 min时达最低,之后又有所回升,但仍低于对照组(P＜0.05).结论:肺缺血再灌注损伤可下调肺组织中NDR G2的表达含量,NDRG2可能是肺缺血再灌注损伤的靶向调控位点.     

Compound Probiotic Ameliorates Acute Alcoholic Liver Disease in Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Maintaining Intestinal Barrier

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a worldwide health threaten lack of effective treatment. Gut dysbiosis and concomitant augmented intestinal permeability are...     

Corticosteroid Treatment Ameliorates Acute Lung Injury Induced by 2009 Swine Origin Influenza A (H1N1) Virus in Mice

Background

The 2009 influenza pandemic affected people in almost all countries in the world, especially in younger age groups. During this time, the debate over whether to use corticosteroid treatment in severe influenza H1N1 infections patients resurfaced and was disputed by clinicians. There is an urgent need for a susceptible animal model of 2009 H1N1 infection that can be used to evaluate the pathogenesis and the therapeutic effect of corticosteroid treatment during infection.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We intranasally inoculated two groups of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice (using 4- or 6-to 8-week-old mice) to compare the pathogenesis of several different H1N1 strains in mice of different ages. Based on the results, a very susceptible 4-week-old C57BL/6 mouse model of Beijing 501 strain of 2009 H1N1 virus infection was established, showing significantly elevated lung edema and cytokine levels compared to controls. Using our established animal model, the cytokine production profile and lung histology were assessed at different times post-infection, revealing increased lung lesions in a time-dependent manner. In additional,the mice were also treated with dexamethasone, which significantly improved survival rate and lung lesions in infected mice compared to those in control mice. Our data showed that corticosteroid treatment ameliorated acute lung injury induced by the 2009 A/H1N1 virus in mice and suggested that corticosteroids are valid drugs for treating 2009 A/H1N1 infection.

Conclusions/Significance

Using the established, very susceptible 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) mouse model, our studies indicate that corticosteroids are a potential therapeutic remedy that may address the increasing concerns over future 2009 A/H1N1pandemics.     

小剂量脂多糖气管内滴注制备急性肺损伤动物模型的探究

目的急性肺损伤/急性呼吸窘迫综合征(Acute lung injury/Acute respiratory distress syndrome,ALI/ARDS)发病率与死亡率均较高,发病机制迄今尚不完全清楚,也无特效的治疗方法。本实验成功地建立一种轻型ALI动物模型,为研究该病的早期发病机制及治疗提供重要的观察手段。方法给予45只SD大鼠气管内灌注内毒素0.5 mL/kg(LPS 200μg/mL),观察4、12、24及48 h光镜和电镜下的病理改变;观察支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中细胞分数、白蛋白等。结果在观察时间内实验动物均存活。LPS给予后实验组病理检查发现①肺间质水肿;②肺泡腔内多形核中性粒细胞(PMN)浸润和红细胞渗出;③肺泡Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型肺泡上皮细胞破坏。以LPS给予后4~12 h为最严重。BALF中PMN及白蛋白明显增加。结论气管内灌注内毒素0.5 mL/kg(LPS200μg/mL)成功地建立急性肺损伤动物模型。     

百草枯致急性肺损伤大鼠模型的建立

目的建立一种百草枯诱导的急性肺损伤（ALI）大鼠模型。方法将20只SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组10只、实验组10只。实验组一次性口服灌胃百草枯（PQ）80mg／kg,于给药后1天处死大鼠,观察光镜下肺组织病理改变、肺动脉血氧分压（PaO2）、支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）蛋白含量等。结果给予百草枯1天后肺形态学出现显著异常,PaO2及BALF蛋白含量出现显著改变。结论一次性灌胃百草枯80mg／kg成功建立急性肺损伤动物模型。     

硫化氢在急性百草枯中毒致大鼠肺损伤中的作用

目的阐明百草枯中毒致大鼠肺损伤时机体内源性H2S的变化,探讨硫化氢在急性百草枯中毒致大鼠肺损伤中的作用。方法按时间点将50只大鼠分为5组,同时染毒;选择对应时间点50只大鼠为对照组。分组检测肺组织中内源性H2S的含量,并及时处死大鼠,行肺组织损伤病理学评分。另外取大鼠40只分为4组,即空白对照组、染毒组、染毒+外源性H2S组、外源性H2S组,于12h后,检测肺组织中内源性H2S的含量,并及时处死大鼠,行肺组织损伤病理学评分。结果百草枯中毒致大鼠肺损伤在不同时间范围内,机体内源性H2S的含量差异有显著统计学意义(P0.01);与染毒组比较,染毒组+外源性H2S组肺损伤程度评分显著降低,差异具有显著统计学意义(P0.01)。结论百草枯致大鼠肺损伤过程中,内源性H2S的含量与肺损伤程度呈负相关;外源性H2S通过增加体内肺组织H2S的含量,抑制百草枯致肺损伤。。     

新型硫化氢供体GYY4137对脂多糖诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤的保护作用

目的:急性肺损伤是临床上常见的危重病,发病急,死亡率高,目前仍缺乏有效的治疗手段,新型的外源性硫化氢供体GYY4137具有抗炎、抗休克、抗癌及抗血栓等作用,本研究探讨其对脂多糖诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤的保护作用及其机制。方法:将BALB/c小鼠(18-20 g)随机分为3组:正常对照组(20只),脂多糖组(20只),治疗组(20只),然后复制小鼠脂多糖诱导的急性肺损伤模型:给予小鼠腹腔注射脂多糖(10 mg/kg)复制小鼠急性肺损伤模型模型,治疗组注射脂多糖1小时后给予腹腔注射GYY4137(50 mg/kg),在给予脂多糖8小时后将小鼠处死,留取血清与组织标本。检测小鼠血清中的炎症因子肿瘤坏死因子α、白介素6及白介素10的表达,检测小鼠血清中H2S的含量,测得肺脏湿/干比,检测肺组织中的髓过氧化物酶活性,并测得肺组织中与氧化应激相关的H2O2、·OH与SOD因子的含量。结果:脂多糖引起了严重的肺损伤,GYY4137对脂多糖导致的肺水肿、炎症反应及氧化应激损伤有不同程度的改善,保护了脂多糖造成的肺损伤,降低了脂多糖诱导的小鼠肺脏氧化应激损伤。其保护作用于抗炎、抗氧化有关。结论:GYY4137可能通过抗炎、抗氧化作用途径保护了脂多糖造成的急性肺损伤,可能在炎症疾病模型中也发挥相同作用,并且为未来临床使用缓释硫化氢供体提供了基础资料。     

The Preventive Effects of Lactobacillus casei on Acute Lung Injury Induced by Lipopolysaccharide

Lactobacillus has been reported to inhibit acute lung injury (ALI). However, the molecular mechanism of Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) in preventing ALI has not been identified, so we investigated whether L. casei pretreatment could inhibit the activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway following ALI. ALI model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to female BALB/c mice. In L. casei LC2W group, mice were intragastrically administrated L. casei LC2W for a week, before the ALI modeling. The serum of normal BALB/c mice after intragastric administration of L. casei LC2W was used for in vitro cell assays. The serum was pre-incubated with mouse macrophage cell line (RAW264.7) and human lung cell line (HLF-A), then LPS was added to co-incubate. Compared with ALI model group, L. casei LC2W pretreatment significantly reduced lung pathological damage, the number of neutrophils and total cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Besides, L. casei LC2W pretreatment could significantly reverse the abnormal expression of ICAM-1, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10 in lung tissue and serum, plus, L. casei LC2W significantly reduced the phosphorylation levels of IRAK-1 and NF-κB p65. In vitro, the serum decreased the up-regulation of IL-6 and TNF-α in cell lines induced by LPS. In conclusion, L. casei LC2W intragastric administration pretreatment could significantly improve LPS-induced ALI in mice, probably through circulation to reach the lungs so as to inhibit the inflammatory response induced by activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.     

N-Acetyl-Heparin Attenuates Acute Lung Injury Caused by Acid Aspiration Mainly by Antagonizing Histones in Mice

Acute lung injury (ALI) is the leading cause of death in intensive care units. Extracellular histones have recently been recognized to be pivotal inflammatory mediators. Heparin and its derivatives can bind histones through electrostatic interaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate 1) the role of extracellular histones in the pathogenesis of ALI caused by acid aspiration and 2) whether N-acetyl-heparin (NAH) provides more protection than heparin against histones at the high dose. ALI was induced in mice via intratracheal instillation of hydrochloric acid (HCl). Lethality rate, blood gas, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, lung edema and pathological changes were used to evaluate the degree of ALI. Heparin/NAH was administered intraperitoneally, twice a day, for 3 days or until death. Acid aspiration caused an obvious increase in extracellular histones. A significant correlation existed between the concentration of HCl aspirated and the circulating histones. Heparin/NAH (10 mg/kg) improved the lethality rate, blood gas, MPO activity, lung edema and pathological score. At a dose of 20 mg/kg, NAH still provided protection, however heparin tended to aggravate the injury due to hemorrhagic complications. The specific interaction between heparin and histones was verified by the binding assay. In summary, high levels of extracellular histones can be pathogenic in ALI caused by acid aspiration. By neutralizing extracellular histones, heparin/NAH can offer similar protection at the moderate doses. At the high dose, NAH provides better protection than heparin.     

原儿茶酸对脂多糖诱导的急性肺损伤小鼠的保护作用

目的:探索原儿茶酸(protocatechuicacid,PCA)对脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)诱导的急性肺损伤(acute lung injury,ALI)小鼠的保护作用,探讨其保护机制。方法:将40只昆明小鼠按随机数字表法均分为空白对照组(NC组)、LPS模型组、原儿茶酸预处理组(PCA+LPS组)、地塞米松阳性对照组(Dex+LPS组),每组10只,模型组以5mg·kg-1脂多糖腹腔内注射诱导急性肺损伤。6h后处死小鼠,HE染色观察肺组织病理学变化;BCA法检测肺泡灌洗液中总蛋白浓度;ELISA检测肺泡灌洗液炎症因子TNF-α、IL-1β含量;Western Blot检测肺组织中p38MAPK、p-p38MAPK、p-ATF2蛋白的表达水平。结果:与对照组相比,模型组小鼠肺损伤明显,肺泡内出血、水肿、炎细胞浸润,肺泡灌洗液中TNF-α、IL-1β的含量及总蛋白浓度增加,肺组织中p38MAPK/p-p38MAPK、p-ATF2表达均明显增加(均P0.01)。与模型组相比,原儿茶酸预处理组、地塞米松阳性对照组肺组织病理损伤程度明显减轻,肺泡灌洗液中TNF-α、IL-1β的含量及总蛋白浓度、肺组织中p38MAPK/p-p38MAPK、p-ATF2表达均明显降低(均P0.01)。结论:PCA对LPS诱导的急性肺损伤有保护作用,其作用机制可能与其抑制p38MAPK-p-ATF2信号通路的活化、降低肺组织炎症反应有关。     

Host Platelets and,in Part,Neutrophils Mediate Lung Accumulation of Transfused UVB-Irradiated Human Platelets in a Mouse Model of Acute Lung Injury

We previously reported that ultraviolet light B (UVB)-treated human platelets (hPLTs) can cause acute lung injury (ALI) in a two-event SCID mouse model in which the predisposing event was Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection and the second event was infusion of UVB-treated hPLTs. To delineate contributions of host mouse platelets (mPLTs) and neutrophils in the pathogenesis of ALI in this mouse model, we depleted mPLTs or neutrophils and measured hPLT accumulation in the lung. We also assessed lung injury by protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). LPS injection followed by infusion of UVB-treated hPLTs resulted in sequestration of both mPLTs and hPLTs in the lungs of SCID mice, although the numbers of neutrophils in the lung were not significantly different from the control group. Depletion of mouse neutrophils caused only a mild reduction in UVB-hPLTs accumulation in the lungs and a mild reduction in protein content in BALF. In comparison, depletion of mPLTs almost completely abolished hPLTs accumulation in the lung and significantly reduced protein content in BALF. UVB-treated hPLTs bound to host mPLTs, but did not bind to neutrophils in the lung. Aspirin treatment of hPLTs in vitro abolished hPLT accumulation in the lung and protected mice from lung injury. Our data indicate that host mPLTs accumulated in the lungs in response to an inflammatory challenge and subsequently mediated the attachment of transfused UVB-hPLTs. Neutrophils also recruited a small percentage of platelets to the lung. These findings may help develop therapeutic strategies for ALI which could potentially result from transfusion of UV illuminated platelets.     

Caveolin-1和黏附分子在LPS诱导的急性肺损伤模型中的变化

通过实时荧光定量PCR(real-time PCR)等方法,研究了脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)诱导的急性肺损伤(acute lung injury,ALI)小鼠模型肺组织中小窝蛋白-1(caveolin-1)、血管细胞粘附分子-1(vascular cell adhesion molecule-1,VCAM-1)和E-选择素(E-selectin)的m RNA表达变化情况,以初步探索caveolin-1在ALI发病机制中的作用。实验结果表明,与对照组相比较,经腹腔注射LPS(20 mg/kg)的实验组中肺系数、髓过氧化物酶(myeloperoxidase,MPO)m RNA水平明显升高(P0.05),同时VCAM-1和E-selectin的m RNA表达水平增加(P0.05),而caveolin-1的m RNA表达减少(P0.05)。上述研究提示,LPS可能通过抑制caveolin-1的表达,使黏附分子VCAM-1、E-selectin的表达上调,从而使肺组织中性粒细胞大量浸润,MPO增多,加重肺损伤。     

Pulmonary Permeability Assessed by Fluorescent-Labeled Dextran Instilled Intranasally into Mice with LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury

Background

Several different methods have been used to assess pulmonary permeability in response to acute lung injury (ALI). However, these methods often involve complicated procedures and algorithms that are difficult to precisely control. The purpose of the current study is to establish a feasible method to evaluate alterations in lung permeability by instilling fluorescently labeled dextran (FITC-Dextran) intranasally.

Methods/Principal Findings

For the mouse model of direct ALI, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was administered intranasally. FITC-Dextran was instilled intranasally one hour before the mice were euthanized. Plasma fluorescence intensities from the LPS group were significantly higher than in the control group. To determine the reliability and reproducibility of the procedure, we also measured the lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, the protein concentration of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, tight and adherens junction markers and pathological changes. Consistent results were observed when the LPS group was compared with the control group. Simultaneously, we found that the concentration of plasma FITC-Dextran was LPS dose-dependent. The concentration of plasma FITC-Dextran also increased with initial intranasal FITC-Dextran doses. Furthermore, increased fluorescence intensity of plasma FITC-Dextran was found in the intraperitoneally LPS-induced ALI model.

Conclusion/Significance

In conclusion, the measurement of FITC-Dextran in plasma after intranasal instillation is a simple, reliable, and reproducible method to evaluate lung permeability alterations in vivo. The concentration of FITC-Dextran in the plasma may be useful as a potential peripheral biomarker of ALI in experimental clinical studies.