A WNT mimetic with broad spectrum FZD-specificity decreases fibrosis and improves function in a pulmonary damage model.

BACKGROUND: Wnt/ß-catenin signaling is critical for lung development and AT2 stem cell maintenance in adults, but excessive pathway activation has been associated with pulmonary fibrosis, both in animal models and human diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a detrimental interstitial lung disease, and although two approved drugs limit functional decline, transplantation is the only treatment that extends survival, highlighting the need for regenerative therapies. METHODS: Using our antibody-based platform of Wnt/ß-catenin modulators, we investigated the ability of a pathway antagonist and pathway activators to reduce pulmonary fibrosis in the acute bleomycin model, and we tested the ability of a WNT mimetic to affect alveolar organoid cultures. RESULTS: A WNT mimetic agonist with broad FZD-binding specificity (FZD1,2,5,7,8) potently expanded alveolar organoids. Upon therapeutic dosing, a broad FZD-binding specific Wnt mimetic decreased pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis and increased lung function in the bleomycin model, and it impacted multiple lung cell types in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the unexpected capacity of a WNT mimetic to effect tissue repair after lung damage and support the continued development of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway modulation for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Tissue-targeted R-spondin mimetics for liver regeneration.

R-spondin (RSPO) proteins amplify Wnt signaling and stimulate regeneration in a variety of tissues. To repair tissue in a tissue-specific manner, tissue-targeted RSPO mimetic molecules are desired. Here, we mutated RSPO (RSPO2 F105R/F109A) to eliminate LGR binding while preserving ZNRF3/RNF43 binding and targeted the mutated RSPO to a liver specific receptor, ASGR1. The resulting bi-specific molecule (αASGR1-RSPO2-RA) enhanced Wnt signaling effectively in vitro, and its activity was limited to ASGR1 expressing cells. Systemic administration of αASGR1-RSPO2-RA in mice specifically upregulated Wnt target genes and stimulated cell proliferation in liver but not intestine (which is more responsive to non-targeted RSPO2) in healthy mice, and improved liver function in diseased mice. These results not only suggest that a tissue-specific RSPO mimetic protein can stimulate regeneration in a cell-specific manner, but also provide a blueprint of how a tissue-specific molecule might be constructed for applications in a broader context.

Limonene-induced activation of A2A adenosine receptors reduces airway inflammation and reactivity in a mouse model of asthma.

Animal models of asthma have shown that limonene, a naturally occurring terpene in citrus fruits, can reduce inflammation and airway reactivity. However, the mechanism of these effects is unknown. We first performed computational and molecular docking analyses that showed limonene could bind to both A2A and A2B receptors. The pharmacological studies were carried out with A2A adenosine receptor knock-out (A2AKO) and wild-type (WT) mice using ovalbumin (OVA) to generate the asthma phenotype. We investigated the effects of limonene on lung inflammation and airway responsiveness to methacholine (MCh) and NECA (nonselective adenosine analog) by administering limonene as an inhalation prior to OVA aerosol challenges in one group of allergic mice for both WT and KO. In whole-body plethysmography studies, we observed that airway responsiveness to MCh in WT SEN group was significantly lowered upon limonene treatment but no effect was observed in A2AKO. Limonene also attenuated NECA-induced airway responsiveness in WT allergic mice with no effect being observed in A2AKO groups. Differential BAL analysis showed that limonene reduced levels of eosinophils in allergic WT mice but not in A2AKO. However, limonene reduced neutrophils in sensitized A2AKO mice, suggesting that it may activate A2B receptors as well. These data indicate that limonene-induced reduction in airway inflammation and airway reactivity occurs mainly via activation of A2AAR but A2B receptors may also play a supporting role.

Role of angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) receptors in airway reactivity and inflammation in an allergic mouse model of asthma.

Objective: Angiotensin II (Ang II) exerts its effects through two G-protein coupled receptors: angiotensin II type 1 receptors (AT1) and type 2 receptors (AT2). Both these receptor subtypes are poorly understood in asthma. In this study, we investigated effects of AT1 receptor antagonist losartan, novel AT2 receptor agonist novokinin and AT2 receptor antagonist PD 123319 in a mouse model of asthma. Methods: Mice were divided into control (CON) and allergen sensitized (SEN) groups. SEN was sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) on days 1 and 6 (30 µg; i.p.), followed by 5% OVA aerosol challenge (days 11-13). Treatments included (a) losartan (SEN + LOS; 20 mg/kg i.p., day 14), (b) novokinin (SEN + NOV; 0.3 mg/kg i.p., day 14), and (c) PD 123319 (SEN + PD; 5 mg/kg i.p., day 14). Experiments for airway responsiveness, bronchoalveolar lavage, and tracheal ring reactivity using isolated organ bath were performed. Results: Airway responsiveness to methacholine (MCh) (48 mg/mL) was significantly higher in SEN (563.71 ± 40% vs. 294.3 ± 123.84 in CON). This response was potentiated in SEN + PD group (757 ± 30%; p < .05 compared to SEN). SEN + LOS (247.61 ± 86.85%) and SEN + NOV (352 ± 11%) had significantly lower response compared to SEN. SEN + LOS (26.22 ± 0.29%) and SEN + NOV (46.20 ± 0.76%) treatment significantly (p < .001) attenuated total cell count and eosinophils compared to SEN group (69.38 ± 1.5%), while SEN + PD (73.04 ± 0.69%) had highest number of eosinophils. Tracheal response to MCh was significantly higher in SEN group compared to controls, and this response was significantly lowered with the losartan and novokinin treatments. Conclusions: These data suggest that AT1 and AT2 receptors have opposite effects in modulating airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation in asthma.

Effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on resolvin (RvE1)-mediated suppression of inflammation in a mouse model of asthma.

Objective: ResolvinE1 (RvE1), an endogenous lipid mediator derived from omega 3 fatty acids contributes to resolution of allergic inflammatory responses. We investigated effects of RvE1 (R) and omega 3 fatty acids (O) on airway reactivity and inflammation using allergic mice. Methods: Mice were divided into control (nonasthmatic; CON) and allergen sensitized-challenged (asthmatic; SEN) groups, and were sensitized i.p. on days 1, 6 with 0.2 µg ovalbumin (OVA) followed by 5% OVA aerosol challenges on days 11-13. RvE1 was administered i.p. postallergen challenge, while omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil) were administered via oral gavage once daily (days 1-13). Whole body plethysmography and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) studies were performed on day 14. Results: RvE1 attenuated airway responsiveness to methacholine (48 mg/ml) in treated asthmatic mice vs. nontreated (150 ± 27.88% in SEN vs. 54 ± 7.52% in SEN + R, p < .05). No difference was observed with omega-3 supplementation (115 ± 19.28% in SEN + O) or treatment with both RvE1 and omega 3 fatty acids (39 ± 12.37% in SEN + R + O vs. 54 ± 7.52% in SEN + R). Differential BAL cell analysis showed that RvE1 decreased eosinophils and neutrophils in SEN mice (p < .005) while no difference was observed with omega-3 fatty acids. SEN + R + O group had similar results as RvE1 treated mice, suggesting that only RvE1 attenuated inflammation. Conclusions: RvE1 attenuated airway responsiveness and inflammation in asthmatic mice. Omega-3 fatty acids, although a precursor for RvE1 formation, had no additive effects on RvE1 decreases in airway inflammation and airway reactivity. Our data suggests that omega-3 supplementation has little effect on airway inflammation and reactivity in our model of asthma.