Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuate Asthmatic Inflammation and Airway Remodeling by Modulating Macrophages/Monocytes in the IL-13-Overexpressing Mouse Model

모요셉,김유진,방지용,정지응,Lee Chun-Geun,Elias Jack A.,강혜련 대한면역학회 2022 Immune Network Vol.22 No.5

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are attractive alternatives to conventional anti-asthmatic drugs for severe asthma. Mechanisms underlying the anti-asthmatic effects of MSCs have not yet been elucidated. This study evaluated the anti-asthmatic effects of intravenously administered MSCs, focusing on macrophages and monocytes. Seven-week-old transgenic (Tg) mice with lung-specific overexpression of IL-13 were used to simulate chronic asthma. MSCs were intravenously administered four days before sampling. We examined changes in immune cell subpopulations, gene expression, and histological phenotypes. IL-13 Tg mice exhibited diverse features of chronic asthma, including severe type 2 inflammation, airway fibrosis, and mucus metaplasia. Intravenous administration of MSCs attenuated these asthmatic features just four days after a single treatment. MSC treatment significantly reduced SiglecF-CD11c-CD11b+ monocyte-derived macrophages (MoMs) and inhibited the polarization of MoMs into M2 macrophages, especially M2a and M2c. Furthermore, MSCs downregulated the excessive accumulation of Ly6c- monocytes in the lungs. While an intravenous adoptive transfer of Ly6c- monocytes promoted the infiltration of MoM and Th2 inflammation, that of MSC-exposed Ly6c- monocytes did not. Ex vivo Ly6c- MoMs upregulated M2-related genes, which were reduced by MSC treatment. Molecules secreted by Ly6c- MoMs from IL-13 Tg mice lungs upregulated the expression of fibrosis-related genes in fibroblasts, which were also suppressed by MSC treatment. In conclusion, intravenously administered MSCs attenuate asthma phenotypes of chronic asthma by modulating macrophages. Identifying M2 macrophage subtypes revealed that exposure to MSCs transforms the phenotype and function of macrophages. We suggest that Ly6c- monocytes could be a therapeutic target for asthma management.

Intravenous Mesenchymal Stem Cell Administration Modulates Monocytes/Macrophages and Ameliorates Asthmatic Airway Inflammation in a Murine Asthma Model

모요셉,Sung-Yoon Kang,Ji-Young Bang,Yujin Kim,Jiung Jeong,Eui-Man Jeong,Hye Young Kim,Sang-Heon Cho,Hye-Ryun Kang 한국분자세포생물학회 2022 Molecules and cells Vol.45 No.11

Although asthma is a common chronic airway disease that responds well to anti-inflammatory agents, some patients with asthma are unresponsive to conventional treatment. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have therapeutic potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases owing to their immunomodulatory properties. However, the target cells of MSCs are not yet clearly known. This study aimed to determine the effect of human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUC-MSCs) on asthmatic lungs by modulating innate immune cells and effector T cells using a murine asthmatic model. Intravenously administered hUC-MSCs reduced airway resistance, mucus production, and inflammation in the murine asthma model. hUC-MSCs attenuated not only T helper (Th) 2 cells and Th17 cells but also augmented regulatory T cells (Tregs). As for innate lymphoid cells (ILC), hUC-MSCs effectively suppressed ILC2s by downregulating master regulators of ILC2s, such as Gata3 and Tcf7. Finally, regarding lung macrophages, hUC-MSCs reduced the total number of macrophages, particularly the proportion of the enhanced monocyte-derived macrophage population. In a closer examination of monocyte-derived macrophages, hUC-MSCs reduced the M2a and M2c populations. In conclusion, hUC-MSCs can be considered as a potential anti- asthmatic treatment given their therapeutic effect on the asthmatic airway inflammation in a murine asthma model by modulating innate immune cells, such as ILC2s, M2a, and M2c macrophages, as well as affecting Tregs and effector T cells.

대식세포 활성화 조절을 통한 atorvastatin의 항천식 효과

모요셉 ( Yosep Mo ),배보람 ( Boram Bae ),김율담 ( Yuldam Kim ),강한빛 ( Hanbit Kang ),이현승 ( Hyun Seung Lee ),조상헌 ( Sang-heon Cho ),강혜련 ( Hye-ryun Kang ) 대한천식알레르기학회(구 대한알레르기학회) 2021 Allergy Asthma & Respiratory Disease Vol.9 No.1

Purpose: Asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disorder and is associated with macrophages. Statin, a well-known lipid-lowering agent, has recently been noted for its anti-inflammatory effect on macrophage. This study was designed to evaluate the antiasthmatic effect of atorvastatin via modulation of macrophage activation by using an animal model of allergic asthma. Methods: Atorvastatin 40 mg/kg was given by gavage once a day for 3 days before challenge of ovalbumin (OVA); airway hyperre-sponsiveness (AHR), airway inflammatory cells, and cytokines were evaluated in the murine asthma model. The direct effect of atorvastatin on the activation of macrophages in vitro was determined using the alveolar macrophage cell line CRL-2456. Results: Administration of atorvastatin reduced the numbers of total inflammatory cells, macrophages, and eosinophils as well as lung histology enhanced in the murine asthma model. AHR measured by enhanced pause was significantly reduced after atorvastatin administration in the murine asthma model (P<0.05). Atorvastatin administration resulted in the reduction in serum OVA-specific IgE levels and the increase in serum OVA-specific IgG2a levels (P<0.05). The mRNA levels of Ccr3, Il-17, and Muc5ac enhanced by OVA challenge were decreased by treatment with atorvastatin (P<0.05). Along with these improvement in allergic inflammatory changes, the population of CD11c^-CD206⁺ macrophages as well as the expression of Ym-1 and Relm-α in the lungs were reduced with atorvastatin (P<0.05). In vitro test with CRL-2456 showed that atorvastatin reduced the expression of Cd206, Arg-1, and Fgf-2 induced by IL-4 stimulation (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study highlighted the antiasthmatic effect of atorvastatin on the suppression of M2 macrophage activation in allergic asthma. (Allergy Asthma Respir Dis 2021;9:27-35)

Interleukin-13으로 유도된 폐 병태생리에 대한 atorvastatin의 치료 효과

모요셉 ( Yosep Mo ),배보람 ( Boram Bae ),김정현 ( Junghyun Kim ),김율담 ( Ruth Lee Kim ),손경희 ( Kyunghee Son ),강민종 ( Min-jong Kang ),이춘근 ( Chun-gen Lee ),조상헌 ( Sang-heon Cho ),강혜련 ( Hye-ryun Kang ) 대한천식알레르기학회(구 대한알레르기학회) 2021 Allergy Asthma & Respiratory Disease Vol.9 No.2

Purpose: Asthma is a common chronic lung disease, in which interleukin (IL)-13 is implicated as a central regulator of IgE synthesis, mucus hypersecretion, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and fibrosis. This study was designed to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of atorvastatin, a widely used lipid-lowering agent, on the IL-13-induced lung pathology through the modulation of macrophages. Methods: Atorvastatin (40 mg/kg) was given to transgenic mice overexpressing IL-13 (IL-13 TG mice) and their wild type littermates by oral gavage for 2 weeks. AHR, numbers of inflammatory cells in the airway, and cytokine levels in IL-13 TG mice were measured. Using the alveolar macrophage cell line CRL-2456, the direct effect of atorvastatin on macrophages activated by recombinant IL-13 was assessed. Results: Significant reduction in total leukocytes and alleviation of AHR were observed with administration of atorvastatin in IL-13 TG mice compared to those without atorvastatin treatment (P<0.05). Atorvastatin administration resulted in upregulation of IL-10 in the lungs of IL-13 TG mice (P<0.05). In addition, mRNA expression of connective tissue growth factor, fibronectin, and type III collagen as well as chord length enhanced by IL-13 overexpression were reduced by atorvastatin administration (P<0.05). M2 macrophage markers, such as Ym-1 and CD206, were decreased, while M1 macrophage marker, inducible nitric oxide synthase, was increased upon atorvastatin treatment (P<0.05). Administration of atorvastatin resulted in improved removal of apoptotic cells (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study reveal a potential of atorvastatin as an effective antiasthmatic agent by reducing IL-13-induced lung inflammation via the modulation of macrophage polarization. (Allergy Asthma Respir Dis 2021;9:76-83)

담배연기에 의한 선천성 면역반응 자극 및 천식의 발생과 악화

김유진,김정현,모요셉,박다은,이현승,정재우,강혜련 대한 소아알레르기 호흡기학회 2022 Allergy Asthma & Respiratory Disease Vol.10 No.3

Purpose: Smoking is a risk factor for the development of asthma and worsens the long-term prognosis of asthma. This study investigated the effect of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on innate immune cells such as innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and macrophages in a murine model of induced asthma. Methods: Six-week-old female BALB/C mice were exposed to ovalbumin (OVA) via an intranasal route with or without CSE for 8 weeks to establish a chronic murine asthma model. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), airway inflammatory cells from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and the population of CD4+ T cells, ILCs, and macrophages in the lungs were studied to evaluate the effect of chronic CSE exposure on asthma. Results: Mice intranasally exposed to CSE along with OVA treatment (CSE/OVA) had significantly enhanced AHR, eosinophilic inflammation, increased IL-13 and IL-17 producing CD4+ T cells compared to mice intranasally exposed to OVA only. On the contrary, the frequency of Foxp3+ in CD4+ T cells was reduced in the CSE/OVA group. CSE enhanced the dendritic cell (DC) population, especially MHCII+ DC with antigen-presenting capacity. Among ILCs, the CSE/OVA group showed a significant increase of IL-13-producing type 2 ILCs, but not interferon-γ+ ILC1s and IL-17+ ILC3s. . Among macrophages, alveolar macrophage and Ym-1 and FIZZ1 positive M2 macrophage populations were significantly induced by CSE exposure alone and when combined with OVA treatment. Conclusion: In this study, we showed that long-term exposure to cigarette smoke contributes to the inception and aggravation of asthmatic inflammation by enhancing DCs, ILC2, and M2 alveolar macrophage populations in the mouse model.