2. Academic Validation
  3. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor exacerbates asthmatic airway remodeling via dynamin-related protein 1-mediated autophagy activation

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor exacerbates asthmatic airway remodeling via dynamin-related protein 1-mediated autophagy activation

  • Respir Res. 2023 Sep 6;24(1):216. doi: 10.1186/s12931-023-02526-y.
Jin Liu 1,  Yuqian Chen 1,  Huan Chen 1,  Yan Wang 1,  Danyang Li 1,  Qianqian Zhang 1,  Limin Chai 1,  Yuanjie Qiu 1,  Jia Zhang 1,  Nirui Shen 1,  Qingting Wang 1,  Jian Wang 1,  Manxiang Li 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277, West Yanta Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, People's Republic of China.
  • 2 Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277, West Yanta Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, People's Republic of China. manxiangli@hotmail.com.
PMID: 37674165 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02526-y
Abstract

Background: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and GTPase dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1)-dependent aberrant mitochondrial fission are closely linked to the pathogenesis of asthma. However, it is unclear whether Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission and its downstream targets mediate MIF-induced proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) in vitro and airway remodeling in chronic asthma models. The present study aims to clarify these issues.

Methods: In this study, primary cultured ASMCs and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic rats were applied. Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 and EdU assays. Western blotting was used to detect extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, Drp1, autophagy-related markers and E-cadherin protein phosphorylation and expression. Inflammatory cytokines production, airway reactivity test, histological staining and immunohistochemical staining were conducted to evaluate the development of asthma. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the mitochondrial ultrastructure.

Results: In primary cultured ASMCs, MIF increased the phosphorylation level of Drp1 at the Ser616 site through activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, which further activated Autophagy and reduced E-cadherin expression, ultimately leading to ASMCs proliferation. In OVA-induced asthmatic rats, MIF inhibitor 4-iodo-6-phenylpyrimidine (4-IPP) treatment, suppression of mitochondrial fission by Mdivi-1 or inhibiting Autophagy with chloroquine phosphate (CQ) all attenuated the development of airway remodeling.

Conclusions: The present study provides novel insights that MIF promotes airway remodeling in asthma by activating Autophagy and degradation of E-cadherin via ERK/Drp1 signaling pathway, suggesting that targeting MIF/ERK/Drp1 might have potential therapeutic value for the prevention and treatment of asthma.

Keywords

Airway remodeling; Asthma; Autophagy; GTPase dynamin-related protein 1; Macrophage migration inhibitory factor.

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