Dan-Dan Feng

Antiflammin-1 attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.

BackgroundAntiflammin-1 (AF-1), a derivative of uteroglobin (UG), is a synthetic nonapeptide with diverse biological functions. In the present study, we investigated whether AF-1 has a protective effect against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.MethodsC57BL/6 mice were injected with bleomycin intratracheally to create an animal model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. On Day 7 and Day 28, we examined the anti-inflammatory effect and antifibrotic effect, respectively, of AF-1 on the bleomycin-treated mice. The effects of AF-1 on the transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced proliferation of murine lung fibroblasts (NIH3T3) were examined by a bromodeoxycytidine (BrdU) incorporation assay and cell cycle analysis.ResultsSevere lung inflammation and fibrosis were observed in the bleomycin-treated mice on Day 7 and Day 28, respectively. Administration of AF-1 significantly reduced the number of neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in the lung homogenates on Day 7. Histological examination revealed that AF-1 markedly reduced the number of infiltrating cells on Day 7 and attenuated the collagen deposition and destruction of lung architecture on Day 28. The hydroxyproline (HYP) content was significantly decreased in the AF-1-treated mice. In vitro, AF-1 inhibited the TGF-β1-induced proliferation of NIH3T3 cells, which was mediated by the UG receptor.ConclusionsAF-1 has anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic actions in bleomycin-induced lung injury. We propose that the antifibrotic effect of AF-1 might be related to its suppression of fibroblast growth in bleomycin-treated lungs and that AF-1 has potential as a new therapeutic tool for pulmonary fibrosis.

NMDA Receptor Antagonist Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Acute Lung Injury

Background Glutamate is a major neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). Large amount of glutamate can overstimulate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), causing neuronal injury and death. Recently, NMDAR has been reported to be found in the lungs. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of memantine, a NMDAR channel blocker, on bleomycin-induced lung injury mice. Methods C57BL/6 mice were intratracheally injected with bleomycin (BLM) to induce lung injury. Mice were randomized to receive saline, memantine (Me), BLM, BLM plus Me. Lungs and BALF were harvested on day 3 or 7 for further evaluation. Results BLM caused leukocyte infiltration, pulmonary edema and increase in cytokines, and imposed significant oxidative stress (MDA as a marker) in lungs. Memantine significantly mitigated the oxidative stress, lung inflammatory response and acute lung injury caused by BLM. Moreover, activation of NMDAR enhances CD11b expression on neutrophils. Conclusions Memantine mitigates oxidative stress, lung inflammatory response and acute lung injury in BLM challenged mice.

Linoleic acid induces Ca2+-induced inactivation of voltage-dependent Ca2+ currents in rat pancreatic beta-cells.

Free fatty acids (FFAs) regulate insulin secretion in a complex pattern and induce pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCC) in beta-cells play a major role in regulating insulin secretion. The aim of present study is to clarify the action of the FFA, linoleic acid, on VDCC in beta-cells. The VDCC current in primary cultured rat beta-cells were recorded under nystatin-perforated whole-cell recording configuration. The VDCC was identified as high-voltage-gated Ca2+ channels due to there being no difference in current amplitude under holding potential between -70 and -40 mV. Linoleic acid (10 microM) significantly inhibited VDCC currents in beta-cells, an effect which was fully reversible upon washout. Methyl-linoleic acid, which does not activate G protein coupled receptor (GPR)40, neither did alter VDCC current in rat beta-cells nor did influence linoleic acid-induced inhibition of VDCC currents. Linoleic acid-induced inhibition of VDCC current was not blocked by preincubation of beta-cells with either the specific protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H89, or the PKC inhibitor, chelerythrine. However, pretreatment of beta-cells with thapsigargin, which depletes intracellular Ca2+ stores, completely abolished linoleic acid-induced decrease in VDCC current. Measurement of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+](i)) illustrated that linoleic acid induced an increase in [Ca2+](i) and that thapsigargin pretreatment inhibited this increase. Methyl-linoleic acid neither did induce increase in [Ca2+](i) nor did it block linoleic acid-induced increase in [Ca2+](i). These results suggest that linoleic acid stimulates Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores and inhibits VDCC currents in rat pancreatic beta-cells via Ca2+-induced inactivation of VDCC.

3T3-L1 adipocytes induce dysfunction of MIN6 insulin-secreting cells via multiple pathways mediated by secretory factors in a co-culture system

Pancreatic β-cell dysfunction is an important pathological change in type 2 diabetes, which is tightly related to obesity. However, the direct role of adipose tissue in β-cell dysfunction has not been well understood. In this study, we examined the effects of 3T3-L1 adipocytes on MIN6 insulin-secreting cells in a co-culture system. MIN6 cells used here kept most of β-cell functions but less sensitive to glucose stimulation. Tolbutamide, the KATP channel blocker, was therefore used to stimulate insulin secretion in this report. MIN6 cells co-cultured with 3T3-L1 adipocytes had significantly reduced intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and lost the ability to secrete insulin in response to tolbutamide, compared to the control cells. 3T3-L1 adipocytes significantly decreased the expression of insulin, glucokinase and Kir6.2 genes but increased the expression of uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) in MIN6 cells after one week of co-culture, as measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. 3T3-L1 adipocyte-conditioned medium also significantly decreased insulin secretion and the expression of insulin, glucokinase and Kir6.2 genes in MIN6 cells. The conditioned medium also reduced tyrosine kinase activity in MIN6 cells. The inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase, genistein, decreased the expression of glucokinase and Kir6.2 in MIN6 cells, while two free fatty acids, oleic acid and linoleic acids, were found to increase UCP-2 expression. The present study demonstrates that 3T3-L1 adipocytes directly impair insulin secretion and the␣expression of important genes in MIN6 cells. The effects of␣3T3-L1 adipocytes on MIN6 cells are ascribed to␣secreted bioactive factors and may be mediated via multiple pathways, which include the upregulation of UCP-2 expression via free fatty acids, and downregulation of glucokinase and Kir6.2 expression via decreasing protein tyrosine kinase activity.

An excessive increase in glutamate contributes to glucose-toxicity in β-cells via activation of pancreatic NMDA receptors in rodent diabetes

In the nervous system, excessive activation of NMDA receptors causes neuronal injury. Although activation of NMDARs has been proposed to contribute to the progress of diabetes, little is known about the effect of excessive long-term activation of NMDARs on β-cells, especially under the challenge of hyperglycemia. Here we thoroughly investigated whether endogenous glutamate aggravated β-cell dysfunction under chronic exposure to high-glucose via activation of NMDARs. The glutamate level was increased in plasma of diabetic mice or patients and in the supernatant of β-cell lines after treatment with high-glucose for 72 h. Decomposing the released glutamate improved GSIS of β-cells under chronic high-glucose exposure. Long-term treatment of β-cells with NMDA inhibited cell viability and decreased GSIS. These effects were eliminated by GluN1 knockout. The NMDAR antagonist MK-801 or GluN1 knockout prevented high-glucose-induced dysfunction in β-cells. MK-801 also decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and inhibited I-κB degradation, ROS generation and NLRP3 inflammasome expression in β-cells exposed to high-glucose. Furthermore, another NMDAR antagonist, Memantine, improved β-cells function in diabetic mice. Taken together, these findings indicate that an increase of glutamate may contribute to the development of diabetes through excessive activation of NMDARs in β-cells, accelerating β-cells dysfunction and apoptosis induced by hyperglycemia.

Nitric oxide-induced activation of NF-κB-mediated NMDA-induced CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase alpha expression inhibition in A549 cells

Pulmonary surfactant is a lipoprotein complex on the alveolar surface. It reduces the surface tension at the air–water interface and stabilizes the alveoli during expiration. Surfactant deficiency or dysfunction is associated with occurrence and development of many pulmonary diseases. Family members of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase are rate-limiting enzymes for surfactant phospholipid synthesis. We had reported recently that the expression of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase alpha (CCT-α) was inhibited during N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA)-induced lung injury. But the molecular mechanism underlining remains elusive. In this work, we reported that NMDA induced nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activation and nuclear factor–kB (NF–κB) subunit p65 nuclear translocation in A549 cells, which were responsible for decreased (CCT-α) expression. Furthermore, NOS activation and elevated NO production are upstream regulators for p65 nuclear translocation and (CCT-α) expression inhibition. Our results provided important clues for further elucidating the mechanisms underlying glutamate-induced lung injury.

A Sustained Activation of Pancreatic NMDARs Is a Novel Factor of β-Cell Apoptosis and Dysfunction

Type 2 diabetes, which features β-cell failure, is caused by the decrease of β-cell mass and insulin secretory function. Current treatments fail to halt the decrease of functional β-cell mass. Strategies to prevent β-cell apoptosis and dysfunction are highly desirable. Recently, our group and others have reported that blockade of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) in the islets has been proposed to prevent the progress of type 2 diabetes through improving β-cell function. It suggests that a sustained activation of the NMDARs may exhibit deleterious effect on β-cells. However, the exact functional impact and mechanism of the sustained NMDAR stimulation on islet β-cells remains unclear. Here, we identify a sustained activation of pancreatic NMDARs as a novel factor of apoptotic β-cell death and function. The sustained treatment with NMDA results in an increase of intracellular [Ca2+] and reactive oxygen species, subsequently induces mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization and a decrease of oxidative phosphorylation expression, and then impairs the mitochondrial function of β-cells. NMDA specifically induces the mitochondrial-dependent pathway of apoptosis in β-cells through upregulation of the proapoptotic Bim and Bax, and downregulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2. Furthermore, a sustained stimulation of NMDARs impairs β-cell insulin secretion through decrease of pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (Pdx-1) and adenosine triphosphate synthesis. The activation of nuclear factor-κB partly contributes to the reduction of Pdx-1 expression induced by overstimulation of NMDARs. In conclusion, we show that the sustained stimulation of NMDARs is a novel mediator of apoptotic signaling and β-cell dysfunction, providing a mechanistic insight into the pathological role of NMDARs activation in diabetes.

Antenatal blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors by Memantine reduces the susceptibility to diabetes induced by a high-fat diet in rats with intrauterine growth restriction†

Abstract Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is closely related to the later development of type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Excessive activation of N-methly-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) causes excitatory neurotoxicity, resulting in neuronal injury or death. Inhibition of NMDARs enhances the glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and survival of islet cells in type 2 diabetic mouse and human islets. Here, we examined whether antenatal blockade of NMDARs by Memantine could decrease the risk of diabetes induced by a high-fat (HF) diet at adulthood in IUGR rats. Pregnant SD rats were assigned to four groups: control, IUGR, Memantine, and Memantine + IUGR. The pregnant rats were exposed to hypoxic conditions (FiO2 = 0.105) for 8 h/day (IUGR group) or given a daily Memantine injection (5 mg/kg, i.p.) before hypoxia exposure from embryonic day (E) 14.5 to E 20.5 (Memantine + IUGR). The offspring were fed an HF diet with 60% of the calories from age 4 to 12 weeks. We found that NMDAR mRNAs were expressed in the fetal rat pancreas. An HF diet resulted in a high rate of diabetes at adulthood in the IUGR group. Antenatal Memantine treatment decreased the risk of diabetes at adulthood of rats with IUGR, which was associated with rescued glucose tolerance, increased insulin release, improved the insulin sensitivity, and increased expression of genes related to beta-cell function in the pancreas. Together, our results suggest that antenatal blockade of NMDARs by Memantine in pregnant rats improves fetal development and reduces the susceptibility to diabetes at adulthood in offspring. Summary Sentence The excessive activation of NMDARs is involved in the restriction of fetal pancreas development induced by intrauterine hypoxia, and antenatal Memantine treatment attenuates the susceptibility to diabetes induced by an HF diet in IUGR rats.

Interaction of antiflammin-1 with uteroglobin-binding protein induces phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in NIH 3T3 cells.

Previously, it has been suggested that uteroglobin (UG)-binding protein functions as a putative receptor of UG; however, the specific epitope of UG that interacts with this receptor has not yet been identified. The downstream events of UG-binding protein signaling remain unclear. Here we report that antiflammin-1 (AF-1, a bioactive C-terminal peptide of UG) specifically binds to UG-binding protein and has a cellular signaling consequence. We reduced the level of endogenous UG-binding protein expression in murine fibroblast cell line NIH 3T3 by RNA interference and found that knockdown of UG-binding protein inhibited AF-1-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation. Meanwhile, the interaction between AF-1 and UG-binding protein was confirmed by flow cytometry-based binding assays and co-localization of AF-1 and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-tagged UG-binding protein. The present study provides evidence for the first time for AF-1 binding with UG-binding protein, and preliminarily characterized UG-binding protein as a point downstream of AF-1 in mediating ERK phosphorylation.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide induces surfactant protein A expression in ATII cells through activation of PKC/c-Fos pathway

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a major neurotransmitter in the lungs and regulates many aspects of pulmonary functions. Pulmonary surfactant (PS), a complex mixture of lipids and proteins, produced by the alveolar type II (ATII) cells maintains alveolar integrity and plays important roles in the control of host defense and inflammation in the lungs. Surfactants deficiency or dysfunction is associated with occurrence and development of many pulmonary diseases. We reported previously that VIP enhanced the synthesis of pulmonary surfactants phospholipid in ATII cells. In this study, the effect of VIP on the expression of pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) in lung explants was investigated. Firstly, we found that VIP elevated SP-A expression in ATII cells which was mediated by enhanced sp-a gene transcription. Furthermore, we identified that c-Fos protein was essential for VIP induced SP-A expression in ATII cells. Finally, we provided evidence to show that activation of c-Fos expression by PKC was required for VIP induced SP-A expression. Altogether, our work showed that VIP regulated the function of pulmonary surfactant system in the lungs and further investigation of the underlying mechanism would provide important clues for better therapeutic strategy design for pulmonary disorders caused by surfactant deficiency.