Chronic asthma-induced airway remodeling is prevented by toll-like receptor-7/8 ligand S28463.
BACKGROUND
Allergic asthma is a heterogeneous disease, the pathology of which is a result of improper immune responses to innocuous antigens. We and others have previously shown that one of the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-7/8 ligands, the synthetic compound S28463 (resiquimod, R-848), is able to inhibit acute allergic asthma in mice.


OBJECTIVE
Given that the efficiency of this pharmacologic compound against the smooth muscle mass increase and goblet cell hyperplasia that are characteristic of chronic allergic asthma has not been previously assessed, we investigated the ability of this compound to prevent these aspects of chronic airway remodeling.


METHODS
The impact of S28463 treatment was assessed in a Brown Norway rat model of chronic asthma by histologic, morphometric, and molecular techniques.


RESULTS
We demonstrate that treatment with S28463 is able to prevent the development of goblet cell hyperplasia and increases in airway smooth muscle mass, and that this effect is at least partially mediated by inhibiting proliferation of goblet and smooth muscle cells, respectively. Furthermore, we show that the abrogation of airway remodeling is preceded by inhibition of the inflammatory reaction normally occurring in response to allergen challenge in sensitized animals. This inhibition was associated with a reduction of both helper T cell type 1 and type 2 cytokine protein expression in the lungs, demonstrating the potent antiinflammatory effect of this pharmaceutical compound in the context of allergic reactions.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, our results indicate great potential for the use of S28463 as an antiinflammatory therapeutic agent for the management of chronic asthma.
Camateros
Pierre
P
Department of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, PQ, H3G 1A4 Canada.
Tamaoka
Meiyo
M
Hassan
Muhannad
M
Marino
Rafael
R
Moisan
Jacques
J
Marion
Dominique
D
Guiot
Marie-Christine
MC
Martin
James G
JG
Radzioch
Danuta
D
D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008024:Ligands; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology; D051199:Toll-Like Receptor 7; D051200:Toll-Like Receptor 8
D000634:Aminoquinolines; D008024:Ligands; C099445:S 28463; C489639:TLR7 protein, rat; D051199:Toll-Like Receptor 7; D051200:Toll-Like Receptor 8