A metabonomic approach to evaluate COPD in a model of cigarette smoke exposure in mice

This study aims to develop an NMR-based metabonomic approach to diagnostic evaluation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in a model of smoke exposure in mice. The current study compared the effects of acute and chronic smoke exposures performed on three strains of mice susceptible to develop COPD and two strains resistant to this disease. Intact lung tissue was examined using high-resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS). Six chemical shifts of the ¹H NMR spectrum including taurine, glutathione, phosphoryl choline and glycero-phosphocholine, were selected to ensure a high discrimination between control and acute exposed mice in the susceptible strain and, simultaneously, a low discrimination in the resistant strains. Using these metabolites, a chronic predictive model was developed and validated. The multivariate analysis provides a 100% true classification for sick mice and 78% for control animals. This pioneering study demonstrates that the NMR-based metabonomic analysis of intact lung tissue is a potential technique for the detection of COPD biomarkers and for the diagnosis of COPD in a mouse model of COPD. It might boost the study of tobacco smoke effects on other non- or less-invasive samples.     

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of acute exposure to sulfur mustard: a systematic review

Context: Mustard gas (e.g. sulfur mustard (SM)) has been used as a chemical agent in several battles and is still a potential worldwide menace. Besides local absorption, particularly in the skin, eyes and lungs, systemic spread of the agent also has detrimental effects on gonads, bone marrow and nervous system. Moreover, chronic exposure of SM to respiratory system causes death. Inducing oxidative stress, and disturbing DNA and tissue repair systems, inflammation and cell death signaling pathways have been introduced as molecular mechanisms of the injury.

Methods: In this systematic review, more than 1200 (2000–2014) articles focusing on gross or molecular pathological reports in the acute phase of the respiratory injury after SM exposure were reviewed, followed by two different layers of gross and molecular pathological data (clinic and laboratory) integrated together in a spatio-temporal order. Role of epithelial, neutrophil and macrophage cells and three signaling pathways of inflammation, oxidative stress and cell death are covered in details.

Results and conclusion: Our results propose a critical role of interleukin-17 producing cells in acute and chronic inflammatory responses.     

Effect of cigarette smoke and dexamethasone on Hsp72 system of alveolar epithelial cells

Smoking is the leading risk factor of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Corticosteroids are abundantly used in these patients; however, the interaction of smoking and steroid treatment is not fully understood. Heat shock proteins (Hsps) play a central role in the maintenance of cell integrity, apoptosis and cellular steroid action. To better understand cigarette smoke-steroid interaction, we examined the effect of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and/or dexamethasone (DEX) on changes of intracellular heat shock protein-72 (Hsp72) in lung cells. Alveolar epithelial cells (A549) were exposed to increasing doses (0; 0.1; 1; and 10 μM/μl) of DEX in the medium in the absence(C) and presence of CSE. Apoptosis, necrosis, Hsp72 messenger-ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein expression of cells were measured, and the role of Hsp72 on steroid effect examined. CSE reduced the number of viable cells by significantly increasing the number of apoptotic and necrotic cells. DEX dose-dependently decreased the ratio of apoptosis when CSE was administered, without change in necrosis. CSE − DEX co-treatment dose-dependently increased Hsp72 mRNA and protein expression, with the highest level measured in CSE + DEX (10) cells, while significantly lower levels were noted in all respective C groups. Pretreatment with Hsp72 silencing RNA confirmed that increased survival observed following DEX administration in CSE-treated cells was mainly mediated via the Hsp72 system. CSE significantly decreases cell survival by inducing apoptosis and necrosis. DEX significantly increases Hsp72 mRNA and protein expression only in the presence of CSE resulting in increased cellular protection and survival. DEX exerts its cell protective effects by decreasing apoptotic cell death via the Hsp72 system in CSE-treated alveolar epithelial cells.     

Upregulation of IL-17A/F from human lung tissue explants with cigarette smoke exposure: implications for COPD

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory disorder marked by relative resistance to steroids. The IL-17 superfamily, which mediates cross-talk between the adaptive and innate immune systems, has been associated with diminished responses to steroids. Increasing evidence supports elevated IL-17 expression in the lung of COPD subjects. However, whether cells of the immune system (systemic) and/or local lung cells are contributing to the elevated IL-17 remains unclear. To address this issue, we utilized a human parenchymal lung tissue explant culture system with cigarette smoke exposure to investigate the expression of IL-17 and the mechanisms involved.

Methods

Parenchymal lung tissue removed from 10 non-COPD and 8 COPD patients was sectioned and cultured with different concentrations of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) for 3 or 6 hours. Tissue viability was evaluated by LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) in culture supernatants. Western blot and real-time PCR were performed to evaluate IL-17A/F expression. To investigate the mechanisms, pharmacological inhibitors for MAPK p38, ERK1/2, NF-κB and PI3K pathways were added into the culture media.

Results

No tissue damage was observed after the cigarette smoke exposure for 3 h or 6 h compared with the control media. At the protein level, the expression of both IL-17A (2.4 ± 0.6 fold) and IL-17 F (3.7 ± 0.7 fold) in the tissue from non-COPD subjects was significantly increased by 5% of CSE at 3 h. For COPD subjects, IL-17A/F expression were significantly increased only at 6 h with 10% of CSE (IL-17A: 4.2 ± 0.8 fold; IL-17 F: 3.3 ± 0.8 fold). The increased expression of IL-17A/F is also regulated at the mRNA level. The inhibitors for NF-κB and PI3K pathways significantly inhibited CSE-induced IL-17A/F expression from lung tissue of non-COPD subjects.

Conclusions

We found the evidence that the expression of both IL-17A and IL-17 F is increased by the cigarette smoke exposure in explants from both non-COPD and COPD subjects, supporting that local lung cells contribute IL-17 production. The elevated IL-17A/F expression is dependent on NF-κB and PI3K pathways. These observations add to the growing evidence which suggests that Th17 cytokines play a significant role in COPD.     

Acute exacerbations of COPD are associated with significant activation of matrix metalloproteinase 9 irrespectively of airway obstruction,emphysema and infection

Background

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AE-COPD) are associated with accelerated aggravation of clinical symptoms and deterioration of pulmonary function. The mechanisms by which exacerbations may contribute to airway remodeling and declined lung function are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated if AE-COPD are associated with differential expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL).

Methods

COPD patients undergoing diagnostic bronchoscopy, with either stable disease (n = 53) or AE-COPD (n = 44), matched for their demographics and lung function parameters were included in this study. Protein levels of MMP-2,–9,–12 and of TIMP-1 and -2 in BAL were measured by ELISA. Enzymatic activity of MMP-2 and -9 was assessed by gelatin zymography.

Results

We observed that MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were significantly increased in BAL during AE-COPD. Furthermore, there was a significant negative correlation of MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 with FEV1% predicted and a significant positive correlation of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 with RV% predicted in AE-COPD. None of MMPs and TIMPs correlated with DLCO% predicted, indicating that they are associated with airway remodeling leading to obstruction rather than emphysema. In AE-COPD the gelatinolytic activity of MMP-2 was increased and furthermore, MMP-9 activation was significantly up-regulated irrespective of lung function, bacterial or viral infections and smoking.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that during AE-COPD increased expression of TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and MMP-9 and activation of MMP-9 may be persistent aggravating factors associated with airway remodeling and obstruction, suggesting a pathway connecting frequent exacerbations to lung function decline.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12931-015-0240-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Prolonged cigarette smoke exposure alters mitochondrial structure and function in airway epithelial cells

Background

Cigarette smoking is the major risk factor for COPD, leading to chronic airway inflammation. We hypothesized that cigarette smoke induces structural and functional changes of airway epithelial mitochondria, with important implications for lung inflammation and COPD pathogenesis.

Methods

We studied changes in mitochondrial morphology and in expression of markers for mitochondrial capacity, damage/biogenesis and fission/fusion in the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B upon 6-months from ex-smoking COPD GOLD stage IV patients to age-matched smoking and never-smoking controls.

Results

We observed that long-term CSE exposure induces robust changes in mitochondrial structure, including fragmentation, branching and quantity of cristae. The majority of these changes were persistent upon CSE depletion. Furthermore, long-term CSE exposure significantly increased the expression of specific fission/fusion markers (Fis1, Mfn1, Mfn2, Drp1 and Opa1), oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) proteins (Complex II, III and V), and oxidative stress (Mn-SOD) markers. These changes were accompanied by increased levels of the pro-inflammatory mediators IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β. Importantly, COPD primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) displayed similar changes in mitochondrial morphology as observed in long-term CSE-exposure BEAS-2B cells. Moreover, expression of specific OXPHOS proteins was higher in PBECs from COPD patients than control smokers, as was the expression of mitochondrial stress marker PINK1.

Conclusion

The observed mitochondrial changes in COPD epithelium are potentially the consequence of long-term exposure to cigarette smoke, leading to impaired mitochondrial function and may play a role in the pathogenesis of COPD.     

Delay of airway epithelial wound repair in COPD is associated with airflow obstruction severity

Background

Airway epithelium integrity is essential to maintain its role of mechanical and functional barrier. Recurrent epithelial injuries require a complex mechanism of repair to restore its integrity. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an abnormal airway epithelial repair may participate in airway remodeling. The objective was to determine if airway epithelial wound repair of airway epithelium is abnormal in COPD.

Methods

Patients scheduled for lung resection were prospectively recruited. Demographic, clinical data and pulmonary function tests results were recorded. Emphysema was visually scored and histological remodeling features were noted. Primary bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) were extracted and cultured for wound closure assay. We determined the mean speed of wound closure (MSWC) and cell proliferation index, matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and cytokines levels in supernatants of BEC 18 hours after cell wounding. In a subset of patients, bronchiolar epithelial cells were also cultured for wound closure assay for MSWC analyze.

Results

13 COPD and 7 non COPD patients were included. The severity of airflow obstruction and the severity of emphysema were associated with a lower MSWC in BEC (p = 0.01, 95% CI [0.15-0.80]; p = 0.04, 95% CI [−0.77;-0.03] respectively). Cell proliferation index was decreased in COPD patients (19 ± 6% in COPD vs 27 ± 3% in non COPD, p = 0.04). The severity of COPD was associated with a lower level of MMP-2 (7.8 ± 2 10⁵ AU in COPD GOLD D vs 12.8 ± 0.13 10⁵ AU in COPD GOLD A, p = 0.04) and a lower level of IL-4 (p = 0.03, 95% CI [0.09;0.87]). Moreover, higher levels of IL-4 and IL-2 were associated with a higher MSWC (p = 0.01, 95% CI [0.17;0.89] and p = 0.02, 95% CI [0.09;0.87] respectively). Clinical characteristics and smoking history were not associated with MSWC, cell proliferation index or MMP and cytokines levels. Finally, we showed an association of the MSWC of bronchial and corresponding bronchiolar epithelial cells obtained from the same patients (p = 0.02, 95% CI [0.12;0.89]).

Conclusion

Our results showed an abnormal bronchial epithelial wound closure process in severe COPD. Further studies are needed to elucidate the contribution and the regulation of this mechanism in the complex pathophysiology of COPD.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12931-014-0151-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Persistence of pulmonary tertiary lymphoid tissues and anti-nuclear antibodies following cessation of cigarette smoke exposure

Formation of pulmonary tertiary immune structures is a characteristic feature of advanced COPD. In the current study, we investigated the mechanisms of tertiary lymphoid tissue (TLT) formation in the lungs of cigarette smoke-exposed mice. We found that cigarette smoke exposure led to TLT formation that persisted following smoking cessation. TLTs consisted predominantly of IgM positive B cells, while plasma cells in close proximity to TLTs expressed IgM, IgG, and IgA. The presence of TLT formation was associated with anti-nuclear autoantibody (ANA) production that also persisted following smoking cessation. ANAs were observed in the lungs, but not the circulation of cigarette smoke-exposed mice. Similarly, we observed ANA in the sputum of COPD patients where levels correlated with disease severity and were refractory to steroid treatment. Both ANA production and TLT formation were dependent on interleukin-1 receptor 1 (IL-1R1) expression. Contrary to TLT and ANA, lung neutrophilia resolved following smoking cessation. These data suggest a differential regulation of innate and B cell-related immune inflammatory processes associated with cigarette smoke exposure. Moreover, our study further emphasizes the importance of interleukin-1 (IL-1) signaling pathways in cigarette smoke-related pulmonary pathogenesis.     

Etiological role of cigarette smoking in rheumatoid arthritis: Nasal exposure to cigarette smoke condensate extracts augments the development of collagen-induced arthritis in mice

Cigarette smoking is a major environmental risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the experimental bases supporting the etiological role of cigarette smoking in RA have not been fully provided. We have reported that cigarette smoke condensate (CSC), by means of subcutaneous injection into DBA/1J mice with collagen and complete Freund’s adjuvant or intraperitoneal injection one day before immunization, augmented the development of arthritis in the mouse model of collagen type II-induced arthritis (CIA). However, these experimental procedures may not be appropriate for cigarette smoking. In this study, we nasally exposed mice to mainstream CSC and found that CSC augmented the induction and development of arthritis and antibody level against collagen. Histological examination confirmed the augmenting effect of CSC. These findings provide experimental bases supporting the etiological role of cigarette smoking in RA.     

Infectious exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with respiratory viruses and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae

Infectious exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been reported to occur with both viral and bacterial pathogens. In this study, 35 exacerbations associated with the isolation of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae from sputum were identified as part of a prospective longitudinal study. Samples from these patients were subjected to immunoassays to identify a new immune response to the homologous isolate of non-typeable H. influenzae to more accurately assess a bacterial etiology. These patients also were studied carefully for evidence of viral infection using viral culture, serology and polymerase chain reaction-based assays. Sixteen of 35 exacerbations (45.7%) were associated with evidence of acute viral infection and 11 of the 35 exacerbations (31.4%) were associated with the development of new serum IgG to homologous non-typeable H. influenzae. Overall, evidence of infection with a respiratory virus or non-typeable H. influenzae was seen in 24 of 35 exacerbations (68.6%). No association between viral infection and immune response to non-typeable H. influenzae was observed, although a trend toward an immune response to non-typeable H. influenzae and absence of viral infection was seen. The results show that exacerbations in adults with COPD were associated with infection caused by virus alone, non-typeable H. influenzae alone, or virus and non-typeable H. influenzae simultaneously.     

Detrimental metabolic effects of combining long-term cigarette smoke exposure and high-fat diet in mice

Obesity and cigarette smoking are both important risk factors for insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Smoking reduces appetite, which makes many people reluctant to quit. Few studies have documented the metabolic impact of combined smoke exposure (se) and high-fat-diet (HFD). Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a powerful hypothalamic feeding stimulator that promotes obesity. We investigated how chronic se affects caloric intake, adiposity, plasma hormones, inflammatory mediators, and hypothalamic NPY peptide in animals fed a palatable HFD. Balb/c mice (5 wk old, male) were exposed to smoke (2 cigarettes, twice/day, 6 days/wk, for 7 wk) with or without HFD. Sham-exposed mice were handled similarly without se. Plasma leptin, hypothalamic NPY, and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) mRNA were measured. HFD induced a 2.3-fold increase in caloric intake, increased adiposity, and glucose in both sham and se cohorts. Smoke exposure decreased caloric intake by 23%, with reduced body weight in both dietary groups. Fat mass and glucose were reduced only by se in the chow-fed animals. ATGL mRNA was reduced by HFD in se animals. Total hypothalamic NPY was reduced by HFD, but only in sham-exposed animals; se increased arcuate NPY. We conclude that although se ameliorated hyperphagia and reversed the weight gain associated with HFD, it failed to reverse fat accumulation and hyperglycemia. The reduced ATGL mRNA expression induced by combined HFD and se may contribute to fat retention. Our data support a powerful health message that smoking in the presence of an unhealthy Western diet increases metabolic disorders and fat accumulation.     

Functional and ultrastructural effects of nontypeable haemophilus influenzae in a hamster trachea organ culture system

Summary A hamster trachea organ culture system was utilized to evaluate quantitatively the effects of a strain of nontypeableHaemophilus influenzae (NTHI) and culture supernatants of the same strain on ciliary activity. Tracheal explants were maintained in organ culture for 96 to 144 h and ciliary activity was observed daily with an inverted microscope. Explants continuously exposed to a strain of NTHI had a progressive decline in ciliary activity which was significantly lower than uninfected controls evaluated concomitantly by 48 h of exposure and thereafter. Histologic studies revealed a progressive degeneration of mucosal cells and exfoliation of ciliated cells. Scanning electron microscopy showed little adherence of NTHI to the mucosal surface. Sterile broth cultures of NTHI and supernatants of organ cultures infected with the same NTHI strain had no adverse effect on ciliary activity. Infected tracheal explants treated with ampicillin 24, 48, or 72 h after continuous bacterial challenge had no significant decline in ciliary activity compared to controls. The lack of adherence and the histologic changes observed when hamster trachea cultures were infected with NTHI suggested a toxin might mediate the damage observed. Broth and organ culture supernatants, however, produced no damage. Therefore, further studies are needed to determine the role, if any, of a toxin in the production of damage to hamster tracheal explants by NTHI. This work was supported by a Merit Review grant from the Veterans Administration and by Grant AI-19641 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.     

Increased activation of blood neutrophils after cigarette smoking in young individuals susceptible to COPD

Background

Cigarette smoking is the most important risk factor for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Only a subgroup of smokers develops COPD and it is unclear why these individuals are more susceptible to the detrimental effects of cigarette smoking. The risk to develop COPD is known to be higher in individuals with familial aggregation of COPD. This study aimed to investigate if acute systemic and local immune responses to cigarette smoke differentiate between individuals susceptible or non-susceptible to develop COPD, both at young (18-40 years) and old (40-75 years) age.

Methods

All participants smoked three cigarettes in one hour. Changes in inflammatory markers in peripheral blood (at 0 and 3 hours) and in bronchial biopsies (at 0 and 24 hours) were investigated. Acute effects of smoking were analyzed within and between susceptible and non-susceptible individuals, and by multiple regression analysis.

Results

Young susceptible individuals showed significantly higher increases in the expression of FcγRII (CD32) in its active forms (A17 and A27) on neutrophils after smoking (p = 0.016 and 0.028 respectively), independently of age, smoking status and expression of the respective markers at baseline. Smoking had no significant effect on mediators in blood or inflammatory cell counts in bronchial biopsies. In the old group, acute effects of smoking were comparable between healthy controls and COPD patients.

Conclusions

We show for the first time that COPD susceptibility at young age associates with an increased systemic innate immune response to cigarette smoking. This suggests a role of systemic inflammation in the early induction phase of COPD.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00807469","term_id":"NCT00807469"}}NCT00807469

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12931-014-0121-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Monophosphoryl lipid A induced innate immune responses via TLR4 to enhance clearance of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis from the nasopharynx in mice

Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common infectious diseases in children. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and Moraxella catarrhalis, Gram-negative bacteria, are considered major pathogens of AOM and respiratory tract infections. In this study, we used monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) as a Toll-like receptor (TLR4) agonist to induce innate immune responses before challenge with NTHi and M.?catarrhalis to enhance bacterial clearance from the nasopharynx. Mice were intranasally administered 40, 10, or 1?μg of MPL and challenged with NTHi and M.?catarrhalis 12 and 24?h later. At 6 and 12?h after the bacterial challenge, the mice were killed and nasal washes were collected. The numbers of NTHi, M.?catarrhalis, and inflammatory cells were quantitated. Inoculation of MPL produced a significant reduction in the number of bacteria recovered from the nasopharynx at 6 and/or 12?h after the bacterial challenge, when compared with control mice. The effect was dose dependent. MPL inoculation also induced the early accumulation of neutrophils in the nasopharynx after exposure to bacteria. MPL is effective for eliciting clearance of both NTHi and M.?catarrhalis from the nasopharynx. These results indicate the possibility of a new strategy against Gram-negative bacterial infection that involves the stimulation of the innate immune system by TLR4 agonists such as MPL.     

COPD大鼠肺组织中小窝蛋白-1 的表达及其与气道重塑的关系

目的:探讨小窝蛋白-1(Caveolin-1)在COPD大鼠肺组织中的表达及其与气道重塑的关系。方法:采用10周龄Wister大鼠20只,随机分为对照组与实验组,每组10只,对照组常规饲养,实验组采用烟熏法+内毒素法建立COPD模型。第91天处死全部大鼠,测定肺功能后取肺组织,采用免疫组织化学法检测Caveolin-1的表达;酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测各组大鼠肺组织匀浆中白细胞介素-8(IL-8)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)的含量;分析Caveolin-1的表达与IL-8、TNF-α、TGF-β表达的相关性。结果:与对照组比较,实验组大鼠的肺顺应性明显下降,肺弹性阻力及气道阻力显著升高,肺组织TNF-α、IL-8、TGF-β1的含量明显升高,Caveolin-1的表达明显降低,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。大鼠肺组织中Caveolin-1的表达与IL-8、TNF-α、TGF-β1含量呈显著负相关(P0.05)。结论:Caveolin-1在COPD大鼠肺组织中的表达明显降低,可能通过促进炎性细胞因子的释放与气道重塑参与COPD的发生和发展。     

Comparative cytoprotective effects of carbocysteine and fluticasone propionate in cigarette smoke extract-stimulated bronchial epithelial cells

Cigarette smoke extracts (CSE) induce oxidative stress, an important feature in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and oxidative stress contributes to the poor clinical efficacy of corticosteroids in COPD patients. Carbocysteine, an antioxidant and mucolytic agent, is effective in reducing the severity and the rate of exacerbations in COPD patients. The effects of carbocysteine on CSE-induced oxidative stress in bronchial epithelial cells as well as the comparison of these antioxidant effects of carbocysteine with those of fluticasone propionate are unknown. The present study was aimed to assess the effects of carbocysteine (10⁻⁴ M) in cell survival and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (by flow cytometry) as well as total glutathione (GSH), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC-2) expression/activation in CSE-stimulated bronchial epithelial cells (16-HBE) and to compare these effects with those of fluticasone propionate (10⁻⁸ M). CSE, carbocysteine or fluticasone propionate did not induce cell necrosis (propidium positive cells) or cell apoptosis (annexin V-positive/propidium-negative cells) in 16-HBE. CSE increased ROS production, nuclear Nrf2 and HO-1 in 16-HBE. Fluticasone propionate did not modify intracellular ROS production, GSH and HDCA-2 but reduced Nrf2 and HO-1 in CSE-stimulated 16-HBE. Carbocysteine reduced ROS production and increased GSH, HO-1, Nrf2 and HDAC-2 nuclear expression/activity in CSE-stimulated cells and was more effective than fluticasone propionate in modulating the CSE-mediated effects. In conclusion, the present study provides compelling evidences that the use of carbocysteine may be considered a promising strategy in diseases associated with corticosteroid resistance.     

Maternal cigarette smoke exposure contributes to glucose intolerance and decreased brain insulin action in mice offspring independent of maternal diet

Background

Maternal smoking leads to intrauterine undernutrition and is associated with low birthweight and higher risk of offspring obesity. Intrauterine smoke exposure (SE) may alter neuroendocrine mediators regulating energy homeostasis as chemicals in cigarette smoke can reach the fetus. Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) consumption causes fetal overnutrition; however, combined effects of HFD and SE are unknown. Thus we investigated the impact of combined maternal HFD and SE on adiposity and energy metabolism in offspring.

Method

Female Balb/c mice had SE (2 cigarettes/day, 5 days/week) or were sham exposed for 5 weeks before mating. Half of each group was fed HFD (33% fat) versus chow as control. The same treatment continued throughout gestation and lactation. Female offspring were fed chow after weaning and sacrificed at 12 weeks.

Results

Birthweights were similar across maternal groups. Faster growth was evident in pups from SE and/or HFD dams before weaning. At 12 weeks, offspring from HFD-fed dams were significantly heavier than those from chow-fed dams (chow-sham 17.6±0.3 g; chow-SE 17.8±0.2 g; HFD-sham 18.7±0.3 g; HFD-SE 18.8±0.4 g, P<0.05 maternal diet effect); fat mass was significantly greater in offspring from chow+SE, HFD+SE and HFD+sham dams. Both maternal HFD and SE affected brain lactate transport. Glucose intolerance and impaired brain response to insulin were observed in SE offspring, and this was aggravated by maternal HFD consumption.

Conclusion

While maternal HFD led to increased body weight in offspring, maternal SE independently programmed adverse health outcomes in offspring. A smoke free environment and healthy diet during pregnancy is desirable to optimize offspring health.     

COPD大鼠模型在不同时期细胞转录因子NF-kB变化及意义(英文)

目的:建立分别由吸烟以及气管内滴注脂多糖导致慢性阻塞性肺病小鼠模型,并研究核因子-κB在(COPD)的作用。方法:我们将50只wistar鼠随机分成2组,1组为正常对照组,2组为COPD进展组。COPD进展组又进一步分为暴露香烟烟雾及气管内滴注脂多糖1周、2周、3周、4周、5周。预备好的小鼠被解剖观察,肉眼观察小鼠外形及肺组织标本,显微镜下观察肺脏的病理改变。分析PH、氧分压、二氧化碳分压,NF-kB的活性被测量。结果:COPD小鼠模型肺组织的病理改变如同COPD患者,不同暴露组的实验小鼠细胞总数结果表明,实验小鼠COPD肺组织的病理改变和人类COPD的病理改变是一致的。动脉血气分析结果显示暴露与烟雾及气管内滴注脂多糖4周的小鼠与正常对照组比较血PH、氧分压是降低的,而二氧化碳分压是升高的。结论:NF-kB在促进肺部炎症反应中起着重要的作用,通过活化肿瘤坏死因子及肺泡巨噬细胞。