title: IκB kinase β inhibitor IMD-0354 suppresses airway remodelling in a Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-sensitized mouse model of chronic asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nuclear factor (NF)-κB is a transcription factor that regulates cytokine and chemokine production in various inflammatory diseases, including bronchial asthma. IκB kinase (IKK) β is important for NF-κB activation in inflammatory conditions, and is possibly related to airway remodelling. Thus, inhibition of the IKKβ-NF-κB pathway may be an ideal strategy for the management of airway remodelling.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We examined the effects of a newly synthesized IKKβ inhibitor, IMD-0354, in a chronic allergen exposure model of bronchial asthma in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A chronic mouse model was generated by challenge with house dust mite antigen (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus). IMD-0354 was administrated intraperitoneally in therapeutic groups. Lung histopathology, hyperresponsiveness and the concentrations of mediators and molecules in supernatants of lung homogenates were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NF-κB activation was inhibited by prolonged periods of IMD-0354 administration. IMD-0354 reduced the numbers of bronchial eosinophils. IMD-0354 also inhibited the pathological features of airway remodelling, including goblet cell hyperplasia, subepithelial fibrosis, collagen deposition and smooth muscle hypertrophy. Inhibition of these structural changes by IMD-0354 was the result of the suppressing the production and activation of remodelling-related mediators, such as TGF-β, via inhibition of IKKβ. IMD-0354 inhibited IL-13 and IL-1β production, and it restored the production of IFN-γ. It also ameliorated airway hyperresponsiveness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IKKβ plays crucial roles in airway inflammation and remodelling in a chronic mouse model of asthma. A specific IKKβ inhibitor, IMD-0354, may be therapeutically beneficial for treating airway inflammation and remodelling in chronic asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine & Rheumatology Department of Molecular and Environmental Pathology, Institute of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan. ogawah@clin.med.tokushimau.ac.jp
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishioka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Honjo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tezuka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uehara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Itai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sone
mesh_terms: D056151:Airway Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001549:Benzamides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015394:Molecular Structure
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D001549:Benzamides; C492919:N-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzamide; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase