Iguratimod ameliorates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting the EMT process and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. 2022

Wenping Liu, and Xiao Han, and Qing Li, and Linqian Sun, and Jibo Wang
Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.

BACKGROUND Pulmonary fibrosis is the deadliest manifestation of connective tissue disease (CTD). Iguratimod (IGU) is a new drug that is used for controlling CTD. Clinical studies have found that IGU has certain advantages in improving lung function and shows great potential for pulmonary fibrosis therapy. However, the specific mechanism is not clear. This study was designed to observe and investigate the therapeutic effects of IGU on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and further investigate its underlying mechanism. METHODS A mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis was induced by intratracheal injection of bleomycin (BLM). Model mice were randomly assigned to receive different concentrations of IGU. A TGF-β (T)-induced A549 epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) cell model was utilized to investigate the effects of IGU on EMT in vitro. The NLRP3 inflammasome was activated by the costimulation of LPS+ATP (LA) to evaluate the effects of IGU in vitro. RESULTS We found that IGU resulted in favourable therapeutic outcomes by affecting inflammatory infiltration and collagen deposition. Additionally, the markers of the BLM-mediated EMT phenotype and NLRP3-activated phenotype in the lung were also attenuated after IGU administration. In vitro experiments, the results confirmed its anti-EMT and anti-NLRP3 inflammasome activation effects.We then found that the anti-lung fibrosis effect of IGU was accompanied by a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. CONCLUSIONS IGU can inhibit the EMT process and NLRP3 inflammasome activation and reduce ROS production to ameliorate pulmonary fibrosis, which may provide new insights into the further application of IGU in interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011658 Pulmonary Fibrosis A process in which normal lung tissues are progressively replaced by FIBROBLASTS and COLLAGEN causing an irreversible loss of the ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream via PULMONARY ALVEOLI. Patients show progressive DYSPNEA finally resulting in death. Alveolitis, Fibrosing,Idiopathic Diffuse Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis,Fibroses, Pulmonary,Fibrosis, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Fibroses,Alveolitides, Fibrosing,Fibrosing Alveolitides,Fibrosing Alveolitis
D001761 Bleomycin A complex of related glycopeptide antibiotics from Streptomyces verticillus consisting of bleomycin A2 and B2. It inhibits DNA metabolism and is used as an antineoplastic, especially for solid tumors. BLEO-cell,Blanoxan,Blenoxane,Bleolem,Bleomicina,Bleomycin A(2),Bleomycin A2,Bleomycin B(2),Bleomycin B2,Bleomycin Sulfate,Bleomycins,Bleomycinum Mack,Bléomycine Bellon,BLEO cell,BLEOcell,Bellon, Bléomycine,Mack, Bleomycinum,Sulfate, Bleomycin
D002867 Chromones 1,4-Benzopyrones,Chromone,1,4 Benzopyrones
D000071199 NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein An NLR protein that contains an N-terminal PYRIN DOMAIN and ATP-binding site and 9 C-terminal LEUCINE-rich repeats; it is expressed primarily by MACROPHAGES. It is a core component of the INFLAMMASOME and directs its assembly in response to pathogen infection and damage-associated stimuli. Mutations in the NLRP3 gene are associated with FAMILIAL COLD AUTOINFLAMMATORY SYNDROME. Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome 1 Protein,NACHT, LRR and PYD Domains-Containing Protein 3,NLRP3 Protein,NACHT, LRR and PYD Domains Containing Protein 3,NLR Family, Pyrin Domain Containing 3 Protein
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013449 Sulfonamides A group of compounds that contain the structure SO2NH2. Sulfonamide,Sulfonamide Mixture,Sulfonamide Mixtures,Mixture, Sulfonamide,Mixtures, Sulfonamide
D017382 Reactive Oxygen Species Molecules or ions formed by the incomplete one-electron reduction of oxygen. These reactive oxygen intermediates include SINGLET OXYGEN; SUPEROXIDES; PEROXIDES; HYDROXYL RADICAL; and HYPOCHLOROUS ACID. They contribute to the microbicidal activity of PHAGOCYTES, regulation of SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION and GENE EXPRESSION, and the oxidative damage to NUCLEIC ACIDS; PROTEINS; and LIPIDS. Active Oxygen Species,Oxygen Radical,Oxygen Radicals,Pro-Oxidant,Reactive Oxygen Intermediates,Active Oxygen,Oxygen Species, Reactive,Pro-Oxidants,Oxygen, Active,Pro Oxidant,Pro Oxidants,Radical, Oxygen
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus
D058750 Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Phenotypic changes of EPITHELIAL CELLS to MESENCHYME type, which increase cell mobility critical in many developmental processes such as NEURAL TUBE development. NEOPLASM METASTASIS and DISEASE PROGRESSION may also induce this transition. Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transformation,Epithelial Mesenchymal Transformation,Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition,Transformation, Epithelial-Mesenchymal,Transition, Epithelial-Mesenchymal
D058847 Inflammasomes Multiprotein complexes that mediate the activation of CASPASE-1. Dysregulation of inflammasomes has also been linked to a number of autoinflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Inflammasome,Pyroptosome,Pyroptosomes

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