Guanylyl cyclase activation reverses resistive breathing–induced lung injury and inflammation

Inspiratory resistive breathing (RB), encountered in obstructive lung diseases, induces lung injury. The soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway is down-regulated in chronic and acute animal models of RB, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and in endotoxin-induced acute lung injury. Our objectives were to: (1) characterize the effects of increased concurrent inspiratory and expiratory resistance in mice via tracheal banding; and (2) investigate the contribution of the sGC/cGMP pathway in RB-induced lung injury. Anesthetized C57BL/6 mice underwent RB achieved by restricting tracheal surface area to 50% (tracheal banding). RB for 24 hours resulted in increased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cellularity and protein content, marked leukocyte infiltration in the lungs, and perturbed respiratory mechanics (increased tissue resistance and elasticity, shifted static pressure–volume curve right and downwards, decreased static compliance), consistent with the presence of acute lung injury. RB down-regulated sGC expression in the lung. All manifestations of lung injury caused by RB were exacerbated by the administration of the sGC inhibitor, 1H-[1,2,4]oxodiazolo[4,3-]quinoxalin-l-one, or when RB was performed using sGCα1 knockout mice. Conversely, restoration of sGC signaling by prior administration of the sGC activator BAY 58-2667 (Bayer, Leverkusen, Germany) prevented RB-induced lung injury. Strikingly, direct pharmacological activation of sGC with BAY 58-2667 24 hours after RB reversed, within 6 hours, the established lung injury. These findings raise the possibility that pharmacological targeting of the sGC–cGMP axis could be used to ameliorate lung dysfunction in obstructive lung diseases

Involvement of protein kinase C-epsilon in prostate malignancy

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The role of Src & ERK1/2 kinases in inspiratory resistive breathing induced acute lung injury and inflammation

Abstract Background Inspiratory resistive breathing (IRB), a hallmark of obstructive airway diseases, is associated with large negative intrathoracic pressures, due to strenuous contractions of the inspiratory muscles. IRB is shown to induce lung injury in previously healthy animals. Src is a multifunctional kinase that is activated in the lung by mechanical stress. ERK1/2 kinase is a downstream target of Src. We hypothesized that Src is activated in the lung during IRB, mediates ERK1/2 activation and IRB-induced lung injury. Methods Anaesthetized, tracheostomized adult rats breathed spontaneously through a 2-way non-rebreathing valve. Resistance was added to the inspiratory port to provide a peak tidal inspiratory pressure of 50% of maximum (inspiratory resistive breathing). Activation of Src and ERK1/2 in the lung was estimated during IRB. Following 6 h of IRB, respiratory system mechanics were measured by the forced oscillation technique and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to measure total and differential cell count and total protein levels. IL-1b and MIP-2a protein levels were measured in lung tissue samples. Wet lung weight to total body weight was measured and Evans blue dye extravasation was estimated to measure lung permeability. Lung injury was evaluated by histology. The Src inhibitor, PP-2 or the inhibitor of ERK1/2 activation, PD98059 was administrated 30 min prior to IRB. Results Src kinase was activated 30 min after the initiation of IRB. Src inhibition ameliorated the increase in BAL cellularity after 6 h IRB, but not the increase of IL-1β and MIP-2a in the lung. The increase in BAL total protein and lung injury score were not affected. The increase in tissue elasticity was partly inhibited. Src inhibition blocked ERK1/2 activation at 3 but not at 6 h of IRB. ERK1/2 inhibition ameliorated the increase in BAL cellularity after 6 h of IRB, blocked the increase of IL-1β and returned Evans blue extravasation and wet lung weight to control values. BAL total protein and the increase in elasticity were partially affected. ERK1/2 inhibition did not significantly change total lung injury score compared to 6 h IRB. Conclusions Src and ERK1/2 are activated in the lung following IRB and participate in IRB-induced lung injury

The differential effects of inspiratory, expiratory, and combined resistive breathing on healthy lung

Combined resistive breathing (CRB) is the hallmark of obstructive airway disease pathophysiology. We have previously shown that severe inspiratory resistive breathing (IRB) induces acute lung injury in healthy rats. The role of expiratory resistance is unknown. The possibility of a load-dependent type of resistive breathing-induced lung injury also remains elusive. Our aim was to investigate the differential effects of IRB, expiratory resistive breathing (ERB), and CRB on healthy rat lung and establish the lowest loads required to induce injury. Anesthetized tracheostomized rats breathed through a two-way valve. Varying resistances were connected to the inspiratory, expiratory, or both ports, so that the peak inspiratory pressure (IRB) was 20%-40% or peak expiratory (ERB) was 40%-70% of maximum. CRB was assessed in inspiratory/expiratory pressures of 30%/50%, 40%/50%, and 40%/60% of maximum. Quietly breathing animals served as controls. At 6 hours, respiratory system mechanics were measured, and bronchoalveolar lavage was performed for measurement of cell and protein concentration. Lung tissue interleukin-6 and interleukin-1 beta levels were estimated, and a lung injury histological score was determined. ERB produced significant, load-independent neutrophilia, without mechanical or permeability derangements. IRB 30% was the lowest inspiratory load that provoked lung injury. CRB increased tissue elasticity, bronchoalveolar lavage total cell, macrophage and neutrophil counts, protein and cytokine levels, and lung injury score in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, CRB load dependently deranges mechanics, increases permeability, and induces inflammation in healthy rats. ERB is a putative inflammatory stimulus for the lung

Cigarette Smoke-Induced Emphysema Exhausts Early Cytotoxic CD8(+) T Cell Responses against Nascent Lung Cancer Cells

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder with an increased incidence of lung cancer. The emphysema component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease confers the greatest proportion to lung cancer risk. Although tumors create inflammatory conditions to escape immunity, the immunological responses that control growth of nascent cancer cells in pre-established inflammatory microenvironments are unknown. In this study, we addressed this issue by implanting OVA-expressing cancer cells in the lungs of mice with cigarette smoke-induced emphysema. Emphysema augmented the growth of cancer cells, an effect that was dependent on T cytotoxic cells. OVA-specific OTI T cells showed early signs of exhaustion upon transfer in emphysema tumor hosts that was largely irreversible because sorting, expansion, and adoptive transfer failed to restore their antitumor activity. Increased numbers of PD-L1- and IDO-positive CD11c+ myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) infiltrated emphysema tumors, whereas sorted emphysema tumor DCs poorly stimulated OTI T cells. Upon adoptive transfer in immunocompetent hosts, T cells primed by emphysema tumor DCs were unable to halt tumor growth. DCs exposed to the emphysema tumor microenvironment downregulated MHC class II and costimulatory molecules, whereas they upregulated PD-L1/IDO via oxidative stress-dependent mechanisms. T cell activation increased upon PD-L1 blockade in emphysema DC-T cell cocultures and in emphysema tumor hosts in vivo. Analysis of the transcriptome of primary human lung tumors showed a strong association between computed tomography-based emphysema scoring and downregulation of immunogenic processes. Thus, suppression of adaptive immunity against lung cancer cells links a chronic inflammatory disorder, emphysema, to cancer, with clinical implications for emphysema patients to be considered optimal candidates for cancer immunotherapies.status: publishe