Activated protein C inhibits bronchial hyperresponsiveness and Th2 cytokine expression in mice.
Asthma is one of the most common diseases and is characterized by airway obstruction, airway inflammation, and increased airway responsiveness. Glucocorticoids are very effective in treatment, but their long-term use is associated with several side effects, so that new anti-inflammatory drugs are in development. Activated protein C (APC) is a serine protease with potent anti-inflammatory effects. This study evaluated the effect of inhaled APC on airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in a murine asthma model. Asthma was induced in BALB/c mice by exposure to chicken egg ovalbumin (OVA), and the effect of inhaled APC was assessed by administering prior to OVA exposure. Inhalation of APC significantly inhibited the expression of T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines, immunoglobulin E (IgE), eosinophilic inflammation, and hyperresponsiveness. APC also significantly suppressed the expression of Th2 cytokines and IgE from lymphocytes isolated from OVA-sensitized/challenged animals. In addition, binding of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) oligonucleotides to lung nuclear proteins was significantly reduced in mice treated with inhaled APC. In brief, the exogenous supplementation of APC inhibits the immunologic and inflammatory responses induced by Th2 cytokines in a mouse model of asthma and may represent a novel anti-inflammatory treatment.
Yuda
Hisamichi
H
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie 514 8507, Japan.
Adachi
Yukihiko
Y
Taguchi
Osamu
O
Gabazza
Esteban C
EC
Hataji
Osamu
O
Fujimoto
Hajime
H
Tamaki
Shigenori
S
Nishikubo
Kimiaki
K
Fukudome
Kenji
K
D'Alessandro-Gabazza
Corina N
CN
Maruyama
Junko
J
Izumizaki
Masahiko
M
Iwase
Michiko
M
Homma
Ikuo
I
Inoue
Ryo
R
Kamada
Haruhiko
H
Hayashi
Tatsuya
T
Kasper
Michael
M
Lambrecht
Bart N
BN
Barnes
Peter J
PJ
Suzuki
Koji
K
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D015703:Antigens, CD; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000276:immunology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000074283:Endothelial Protein C Receptor; D016232:Endothelins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D011486:Protein C / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013917:Thrombin / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D020298:U937 Cells; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
D000906:Antibodies; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D016207:Cytokines; D000074283:Endothelial Protein C Receptor; D016232:Endothelins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; C478370:PROCR protein, human; D011486:Protein C; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494101:STAT6 protein, human; C494100:Stat6 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; C045071:leukocyte procoagulant activity; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin; D013917:Thrombin; D015232:Dinoprostone; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors