盐酸氨溴索对慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者免疫功能及炎症因子的影响

目的:探讨盐酸氨溴索对慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者免疫功能及炎症因子的影响。方法:将2014年6月～2016年6月遂宁市中心医院收治的88例COPD患者随机分成对照组和观察组各44例。患者均先给予常规治疗,对照组再给予福莫特罗复方干粉吸入剂吸入治疗,而观察组给予盐酸氨溴索静脉滴注进行治疗,经过14 d治疗后评价患者的治疗疗效,对比两组患者治疗前后的肺功能指标、免疫功能指标及炎症因子。结果:观察组总有效率(90.91%)显著高于对照组(75.00%)(P0.05)。两组患者治疗后用力肺活量(FVC)、第一秒用力呼气量(FEV1)、最大呼气峰流速值(PEF)均升高,且观察组升高更明显,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);两组患者治疗后CD3~+、CD4~+、CD4~+/CD8~+比值均升高,同时CD8~+降低,但观察组优于对照组(P0.05)。治疗后两组血清肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)水平均降低,且观察组血清TNF-α、IL-6水平均明显低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:盐酸氨溴索可改善COPD患者的肺功能、增强免疫功能,降低炎症因子水平,进而提高治疗效果。     

Genome-wide MicroRNA Expression Profiles in COPD: Early Predictors for Cancer Development

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) significantly increases the risk of developing cancer. Biomarker studies frequently follow a case-control set-up in which patients diagnosed with a disease are compared to controls. Longitudinal cohort studies such as the COPD-centered German COPD and SYstemic consequences-COmorbidities NETwork(COSYCONET) study provide the patient and biomaterial base for discovering predictive molecular markers. We asked whether microRNA(miRNA) profiles in blood collected from COPD patients prior to a tumor diagnosis could support an early diagnosis of tumor development independent of the tumor type. From 2741 participants of COSYCONET diagnosed with COPD, we selected 534 individuals including 33 patients who developed cancer during the follow-up period of 54 months and 501 patients who did not develop cancer, but had similar age, gender and smoking history. Genome-wide miRNA profiles were generated and evaluated using machine learning techniques. For patients developing cancer we identified nine miRNAs with significantly decreased abundance(two-tailed unpaired t-test adjusted for multiple testing P 0.05), including members of the miR-320 family. The identified mi RNAs regulate different cancer-related pathways including the MAPK pathway(P = 2.3 x 10~(-5)). We also observed the impact of confounding factors on the generated miRNA profiles, underlining the value of our matched analysis. For selected miRNAs, qRT-PCR analysis was applied to validate the results. In conclusion, we identified several miRNAs in blood of COPD patients, which could serve as candidates for biomarkers to help identify COPD patients at risk of developing cancer.     

MiR-3202 protects smokers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through inhibiting FAIM2: An in vivo and in vitro study

Previous study found the variable miR-3202 as a potential biomarker in smoker with or without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aims to identify the molecular involvement of miR-3202 in the pathophysiology of COPD. Level of miR-3202 in blood sample of non-smoker non-COPD(C), smoker without COPD(S), smoker with stable COPD(S-COPD) and smoker with acute exacerbation COPD(AE-COPD) was observed by quantitative real-time PCR. By bioinformatics prediction, Fas apoptotic inhibitory molecule 2 (FAIM2) was identified as a potential target of miR-3202. In vitro, human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells and cigarette smoke extract (CSE) stimulated T lymphocytes were co-cultured. Cell proliferation and apoptosis of HBE cells were determinated. In vivo, rats were exposed in cigarette smoke for 30 days and expression of miR-3202 and FAIM2 in bronchia were detected. Results showed that The miR-3202 was down-regulated in S, S-COPD and AE-COPD group when compared with C group. Decreased level of miR-3202 was also observed in CSE treated T lymphocyte. Additionally, CSE stimulation increased INF-γ and TNF-α levels and FAIM2 expression whereas inhibited Fas and FasL expressions in T lymphocytes. However, these effects were significantly suppressed by miR-3202 overexpression and enhanced by miR-3202 inhibitor. Likely to exogenous miR-3202, FAIM2 knockdown significantly inhibited HBE cells apoptosis, as well as inhibited INF-γ and TNF-α levels. In COPD rats model, miR-3202 was reduced while FAIM2 was up-regulated accordingly. Here, results suggest that high level miR-3202 in T lymphocytes may protect epithelial cells through targeting FAIM2. MiR-3202 might be used as a notable biomarker of COPD.     

High affinity sugar ligands of C-type lectin receptor langerin

Background

Langerin, a C-type lectin receptor (CLR) expressed in a subset of dendritic cells (DCs), binds to glycan ligands for pathogen capture and clearance. Previous studies revealed that langerin has an unusual binding affinity toward 6-sulfated galactose (Gal), a structure primarily found in keratan sulfate (KS). However, details and biological outcomes of this interaction have not been characterized. Based on a recent discovery that the disaccharide L4, a KS component that contains 6-sulfo-Gal, exhibits anti-inflammatory activity in mouse lung, we hypothesized that L4-related compounds are useful tools for characterizing the langerin-ligand interactions and their therapeutic application.

慢性阻塞性肺疾病与代谢综合征及颈动脉内膜厚度的相关性研究

目的:研究慢性阻塞性肺疾病与代谢综合征及颈动脉内膜厚度的关系。方法:选择2014年8月至2015年4月在我院就诊的慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者60例作为研究组,另选择同期在我院接受健康体检的60名志愿者作为对照组。比较两组空腹血糖、甘油三酯及高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平、代谢综合征的发生率、颈动脉内膜厚度以及合并与不合并代谢综合征的慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者的肺功能和颈动脉内膜厚度,并采用多元回归分析颈动脉内膜厚度与慢性阻塞性肺疾病及代谢综合征的相关性。结果:与对照组相比,研究组患者空腹血糖(FPG)明显升高,而甘油三酯(TG)水平明显降低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);两组高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。研究组代谢综合征的发病率、颈动脉内膜厚度均明显高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);慢性阻塞性肺疾病合并代谢综合征患者的肺功能明显优于无代谢综合征的慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);合并代谢综合征的慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者FEV1占预计值百分比及FEV1/FVC均明显高于无代谢综合征慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者的对应值,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。Logistic回归分析结果显示慢性阻塞性肺疾病与颈动脉内膜厚度呈独立相关性,而代谢综合征与颈动脉内膜厚度无直接相关性。结论:慢性阻塞性肺疾病与颈动脉内膜厚度呈独立相关,且慢性阻塞性肺疾病合并代谢综合征患者发生颈动脉粥样硬化的风险更高。     

Repeated lipopolysaccharide exposure causes corticosteroid insensitive airway inflammation via activation of phosphoinositide-3-kinase δ pathway

Corticosteroid resistance is one of major barriers to effective management of chronic inflammatory respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and severe asthma. These patients often experience exacerbations with viral and/or bacterial infection, which may cause continuous corticosteroid insensitive inflammation. In this study, we observed that repeated exposure of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intranasally attenuated the anti-inflammatory effects of the corticosteroid fluticasone propionate (FP) on neutrophils and CXCL1 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in an in vivo murine model. Histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC2) and NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) levels in lungs after LPS administration for 3 consecutive days were significantly decreased to 38.9±6.3% (mean±SEM) and 77.5±2.7% of the levels seen after only one day of LPS exposure, respectively. In addition, 3 days LPS exposure resulted in an increase of Akt phosphorylation, indicating activation of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway by 4-fold in lungs compared with 1 day of exposure. Furthermore, combination treatment with theophylline and FP significantly decreased the neutrophil accumulation and CXCL1 concentrations in BAL fluid from 22.5±1.8×10⁴ cells/mL and 214.6±20.6 pg/mL to 7.9±0.5×10⁴ cells/mL and 61.9±13.3 pg/mL, respectively. Combination treatment with IC87114, a selective PI3Kδ inhibitor, and FP also significantly decreased neutrophils and CXCL1 levels from 16.8±0.7×10⁴ cells/mL and 182.4±4.6 pg/mL to 5.9±0.3×10⁴ cells/mL and 71.4±2.7 pg/mL, respectively. Taken together, repeated exposure of LPS causes corticosteroid-insensitive airway inflammation in vivo, and the corticosteroid-resistance induced by LPS is at least partly mediated through the activation of PI3Kδ, resulting in decreased levels of HDAC2 and Nrf2. These findings provide a potentially new therapeutic approach to COPD and severe asthma.     

Mechanism of attenuation of protein loss in murine C2C12 myotubes by d-myo-inositol 1,2,6-triphosphate

d-Myo-inositol 1,2,6-triphosphate (alpha trinositol, AT) has been shown to attenuate muscle atrophy in a murine cachexia model through an increase in protein synthesis and a decrease in degradation. The mechanism of this effect has been investigated in murine myotubes using a range of catabolic stimuli, including proteolysis-inducing factor (PIF), angiotensin II (Ang II), lipopolysaccharide, and tumor necrosis factor-α/interferon-γ. At a concentration of 100 μM AT was found to attenuate both the induction of protein degradation and depression of protein synthesis in response to all stimuli. The effect on protein degradation was accompanied by attenuation of the increased expression and activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. This suggests that AT inhibits a signalling step common to all four agents. This target has been shown to be activation (autophosphorylation) of the dsRNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) and the subsequent phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 on the α-subunit, together with downstream signalling pathways leading to protein degradation. AT also inhibited activation of caspase-3/-8, which is thought to lead to activation of PKR. The mechanism of this effect may be related to the ability of AT to chelate divalent metal ions, since the attenuation of the increased activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway by PIF and Ang II, as well as the depression of protein synthesis by PIF, were reversed by increasing concentrations of Zn²⁺. The ability of AT to attenuate muscle atrophy by a range of stimuli suggests that it may be effective in several catabolic conditions.     

Synthesis and biological comparison of enantiomers of mepenzolate bromide,a muscarinic receptor antagonist with bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activities

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by abnormal inflammatory responses and airflow limitations. We recently proposed that the muscarinic antagonist mepenzolate bromide (mepenzolate) would be therapeutically effective against COPD due to its muscarinic receptor-dependent bronchodilatory activity as well as anti-inflammatory properties. Mepenzolate has an asymmetric carbon atom, thus providing us with the opportunity to synthesize both of its enantiomers ((R)- and (S)-mepenzolate) and to examine their biochemical and pharmacological activities. (R)- or (S)-mepenzolate was synthesized by condensation of benzilic acid with (R)- or (S)-alcohol, respectively, followed by quaternization of the tertiary amine. As predicted by computational simulation, a filter-binding assay in vitro revealed that (R)-mepenzolate showed a higher affinity for the muscarinic M3 receptor than (S)-mepenzolate. In vivo, the bronchodilatory activity of (R)-mepenzolate was superior to that of (S)-mepenzolate, whereas anti-inflammatory activity was indistinguishable between the two enantiomers. We confirmed that each mepenzolate maintained its original stereochemistry in the lung when administered intratracheally. These results suggest that (R)-mepenzolate may have superior properties to (S)-mepenzolate as a drug to treat COPD patients given that the former has more potent bronchodilatory activity than the latter.     

in silico analyses of metabolic pathway and protein interaction network for identification of next gen therapeutic targets in Chlamydophila pneumoniae

Chlamydophila pneumoniae, the causative agent of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is presently the fifth mortality causing chronic disease in the world. The understanding of disease and treatment options are limited represents a severe concern and a need for better therapeutics. With the advancements in the field of complete genome sequencing and computational approaches development have lead to metabolic pathway analysis and protein-protein interaction network which provides vital evidence to the protein function and has been appropriate to the fields such as systems biology and drug discovery. Protein interaction network analysis allows us to predict the most potential drug targets among large number of the non-homologous proteins involved in the unique metabolic pathway. A computational comparative metabolic pathway analysis of the host H. sapiens and the pathogen C pneumoniae AR39 has been carried out at three level analyses. Firstly, metabolic pathway analysis was performed to identify unique metabolic pathways and non-homologous proteins were identified. Secondly, essentiality of the proteins was checked, where these proteins contribute to the growth and survival of the organism. Finally these proteins were further subjected to predict protein interaction networks. Among the total 65 pathways in the C pneumoniae AR39 genome 10 were identified as the unique metabolic pathways which were not found in the human host, 32 enzymes were predicted as essential and these proteins were considered for protein interaction analysis, later using various criteria''s we have narrowed down to prioritize ribonucleotide-diphosphate reductase subunit beta as a potential drug target which facilitate for the successful entry into drug designing.